MANDSAUR: The opium crop known as the black gold (kala sona) has been hit by the viral disease this year and the farmers are afraid that their license will be cancelled. The farmers are saying that never before has there been such a rampant virus attack on the opium crop. They are anxious that if they are unable to harvest the average produce, the government might cancel their license.
A farmer from Nimbod, Devram Kumawat said that the height of the poppy crops is less this year and the use medicines has failed to stop this virus from affecting the crops.
Farmers of Akodada, Yogendra Joshi and Gopal Patidar said that Khankhariya disease has damaged the whole crop and the whole farms have turned yellow.
The farmers from Semliya Heera, Mangilal Patidar and Mahesh Patidar said that the whole opium crop is affected this year due to the virus.
Expensive medicines too have failed in saving the crops. They alleged that medicine sellers are also exploiting them. They said that the government and the narcotics department should take decision in the favour of farmers and should provide relief.
Afeem Kashtkar Sangathan leader Amritram Patidar, Rameshwar Arya, Khoobchand Sharma and others have demanded a relief fund from the government or else they would go for a farmers’ agitation.
