Allow farmers to cultivate poppy: Johl

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, December 9

Economist Dr SS Johl, Chancellor, Central University of Punjab, today recommended lifting ban on the cultivation of poppy in the state. He stressed on allowing small farmers to cultivate the crop, cultivation of which is more remunerative than traditional crops.

Dr Johl said banning such crops led to “ban-smuggle-promote” syndrome, as interested players illegally reap windfall profits by simultaneous promotion and smuggling of banned drugs.

He said this while delivering Dr Tarlok Singh Memorial Lecture at the 17 annual conference of Indian Association of Social Science Institutions (IASSI) at CRRID here.

In his address “Alleviating Socio-economic Stress in Rural Areas of Punjab: Some Policy Options”, he suggested steps such as rationalisation of agricultural subsidy, promotion of rural industrialisation, setting up of agricultural service centres and self-sustained old-age security mechanism for farmers to cope with growing stress on the rural economy in Punjab, resulting in farmer suicides.

Dr Rashpal Malhotra, Executive Vice-Chairman, CRRID, delivered the welcome address and said social science research in India was in doldrums. Prof SR Hashim, Chairman, IASSI, spoke about IASSI and its mission to integrate social sciences.

Prof SS Gill, Organising Secretary of the conference and former Director, CRRID, introduced the theme and briefed about the conference.