Nashik farmer asks President Murmu for permission to grow cannabis and poppy

Cultivating cannabis is an offence in Maharashtra. Even so, a farmer from Nashik has appealed directly to President Droupadi Murmu for permission to grow cannabis and poppy. The demand, made with a reference to the Kumbh Mela to be held in Nashik, has caused a stir in the area.

The farmer who submitted the request is Vijay Ramnath Shinde, a resident of Sayale village in Nashik. He is said to have handed the request to President Murmu during her visit to Nashik for the flag-hoisting ceremony of the Simhastha Kumbh Mela. It is also being discussed that he cited the Simhastha Kumbh Mela in support of his demand.

The cannabis plant has some medicinal use, but it has both good and bad properties. For this reason, its cultivation is not permitted in the state. Shinde's unusual demand is now being discussed in Nashik and across the state.

In an interview to a Marathi news channel, Shinde made several points. He said the Kumbh Mela is to be held in Nashik this year and lakhs of sadhus will come. The ganja these sadhus need comes from other states. Shinde said that, given the drought conditions in the state, he should be allowed to grow ganja and poppy, even if only for some time.

Shinde also said that some states allow cannabis cultivation with conditions, so why not Maharashtra. He said in the interview that if he was saying anything wrong, a case could be registered against him.

In his request, Shinde listed the economic difficulties of farming. According to him, this year's rain, the rock-bottom prices fetched by produce and the drought conditions have upset farmers' finances. He says traditional farming is not bringing the income expected, so it is necessary to think about other crops. On this basis, he has sought permission for local farmers to grow ganja and poppy.

Such a demand has not been raised in Sinnar taluka for the first time. In May this year, farmer Sunil Ukirde also made a similar demand to the administration. He had suffered heavy losses after getting only Rs 12.35 per kg for his onions. To recover from the loss, he had submitted a request to the tahsildar seeking permission to grow cannabis.

Farmers are now watching to see what stand the government takes on the demand.