On Thursday, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee announced that she had written to the the national government requesting permission for West Bengal to cultivate poppies so that its residents could enjoy the treats made with them.
Speaking before the group, Banerjee claimed that because poppy seeds are grown in so few states, they are expensive.
“Posto is a Bengali affection. Why should it only be grown in four states? Why won’t it be grown in West Bengal despite the fact that we eat it every day? It was her.
Why must we pay exorbitant rates to buy posto from other states? Why won’t West Bengal be allowed to cultivate posto here? I’ll urge opposition party members to write the Center about it,” she continued.
Banerjee asserted that not all opium is illicit.
“We have a number of such farms, and we have stated that we will grow it there. If we can cultivate poppy in our state we will get them at ₹100 (per kg), instead of ₹1,000. We occasionally have to reach consensus on choices. She insisted that not all poppies are addictive.
Since poppy seeds are essential to Bengali food, West Bengal has been attempting to obtain approval for the highly regulated crop’s cultivation.
Banerjee was discussing budget talks involving the Department of Food and Supplies.
“Our farms are now making more money. Now, they are four times as wealthy. Our scientists’ study efforts have benefited us in a number of ways. I had suggested this to them. Some people believe I’m stupid in politics. It’s just my poor luck that I don’t fit in with them, she said.
Banerjee argued that the gobindobhog and tulaipanji varieties of rice grown in West Bengal should receive the same tax breaks as basmati did.
