Raebareli Farmers Strike Gold with Opium Cultivation: Low Investment, High Returns

• Farmers in Raebareli are prospering by cultivating 'black gold' (opium), earning significant profits with minimal investment.
• Progressive farmer Jamuna Prasad from Bedaru village has been cultivating opium for 40 years, demonstrating its profitability.
• Cultivating 10 Biswa of land requires an investment of Rs 30,000-40,000, yielding an annual profit of Rs 1.5-2 lakh.
• Opium cultivation requires a government license from the Ministry of Finance, with applications submitted via the Central Bureau of Narcotics website, as it's primarily for medicinal use.
• Sowing occurs in November, with the crop ready by April; flowers appear in 95-115 days, followed by opium pods in 15-20 days.