Locals have been growing cannabis in their backywards as the narcotic herb at huge profit. "A plant can produce around 5 kg of cannabis and a kilo sells for around Rs 5000," said a villager involved in growing the narcotic herb. [break]
Others said said many villagers have been growing around 50 cannabis plants in their backyards and earn up to Rs 30,000 a year.
Planting usually begins in May and flowers are plucked around January. Around December, buyers, most of them from India, visit the villages and collect the harvest. Farmers said the buyers pay them around Rs 5,000 per kilo and sell it for around IRs 10,000-15,000 across the border.
Farmers also said more youths in the villages these days have taken the habit of smoking cannabis. "Selling these products in retail is even more profitable," said a local involved in the farming. He said they can make up to 500 packets from a kilo of cannabis and each packet sells for up to Rs 50.
Chariman of Youth Empowerment Association Nepal Lalapatti branch, Kishore Kumar Yadav expressed serious concerns over growing number of youths smoking cannabis.
Informed people said cannabis is being smuggled to India right under police noses. They said open border has also helped smuggling.
But Superintendent of Police at Saptari District Police Office, Ganesh Bahadur Thapa said they have been doing their best to control smuggling and he has ordered police personnel to destroy all cannabis plants "on sight".
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