Another grower Deepak Katoch said the cultivation of opium would help check illegal cultivation of cannabis (charas) and the apple growers, who have been demanding enhancing the import duty on apples from 50 percent to 100 percent, would get a major relief.
Joining the issue, sitting MP and BJP candidate from Shimla (reserved) Lok Sabha constituency Virender Kashyap said legalised cultivation of opium is the best option.
"There is a huge demand for opium in the pharmaceutical industry. The climatic condition in certain areas is congenial for its cultivation. So if our farmers are able to meet the market demand, what is wrong in it?" Kashyap told IANS.
He said some states like Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh have allowed selective cultivation of opium which greatly helped to strengthen the rural economy.
Kashyap, who is pitted against Mohan Lal Bragta (Congress), said poppy cultivation was not banned in the state before independence. "It's wrong to presume that the drug mafia would flourish with the backing of the government.