India's Farmers Grow Cannabis for Profit Despite Legal Risks

In Odisha, India, many farmers are risking legal consequences to cultivate cannabis, a banned crop, in pursuit of higher income. Ajay Rout, an Indigenous farmer in a remote, hilly village, exemplifies this trend. Rout grows sweetcorn and vegetables on his small plot of land, but the meager earnings from traditional farming have led him to grow cannabis illegally for better financial returns.

The Appeal of Cannabis Farming

Cannabis cultivation in India is largely banned, except for medicinal use in a few states. However, in Odisha, where the terrain limits traditional farming, cannabis offers farmers like Rout a significant income boost. Rout claims he can earn up to ₹500,000 ($5,962) in just six months from cannabis compared to ₹30,000 ($357) annually from vegetables. Farmers often plant cannabis in remote, hard-to-reach areas to avoid detection by law enforcement.

The cultivation process begins in July and takes about five months. Farmers sell cannabis flowers for ₹1,000 to ₹1,500 ($12 to $18) per kilogram to traders, who sell them at much higher prices in urban markets.

Lifestyle Changes and Risks

Cannabis farming has brought economic benefits to villages in Odisha, enabling families to build concrete houses, purchase motorcycles, and host lavish events. However, these newfound riches come with risks. Farmers frequently face police raids, arrests, and the destruction of their crops. Some, like Subhankar Das, balance their prosperity with caution to avoid drawing attention from law enforcement.

Law Enforcement Crackdowns

Odisha police have intensified efforts to curb illegal cannabis cultivation. Between 2021 and 2023, they seized 600 tonnes of cannabis worth $200 million and arrested 8,500 traffickers. Advanced technologies, such as drones and satellite imagery, are used to locate plantations, but challenges like landmines in rebel-dominated areas complicate operations.

Despite these efforts, the high demand and lucrative profits keep the trade alive. Traders purchase cannabis at ₹1,000 ($12) per kilogram from farmers but sell it for ₹25,000 ($298) in cities.

Shifting to Legal Alternatives

Some farmers, deterred by police actions and legal risks, have switched to cultivating millet, a government-supported crop. Odisha provides free millet seeds and guarantees crop purchases, making it an appealing, albeit less profitable, alternative. However, farmers like Rout continue to grow cannabis, willing to risk imprisonment for the financial rewards it offers.

This tension between economic necessity and legal consequences underscores the complexities of cannabis cultivation in regions like Odisha, where traditional farming struggles to meet the needs of local communities.