A farmer from Solapur in Maharashtra has approached the district administration seeking permission to grow ganja (cannabis) plants on his farm, saying the contraband fetches a good rate in market and claimed there is no fixed price for any agricultur...

He also asked the district administration to give him permission by September 15 to grow cannabis plants on his farmland, if he doesn't get a reply, he would start the cultivation from September 16, presuming that he has been given the nod for it.

The cultivation of cannabis, also known as marijuana, is prohibited under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act.

Anil Patil, the farmer from Mohol tehsil in Solapur, in his application sent to Solapur district collector on Wednesday, said there was no fixed price (MSP) for any crop and hence, the agriculture business was running into losses.

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However, the district administration didn't want to handle this and forwarded the farmer's application to the police, who termed it as a "publicity stunt"

"As agriculture produce fetches a pittance, farming is turning out to be difficult. Even the input cost of cultivation of any crop is not recovered. The dues of sugarcane sold to sugar factories are unpaid," he said in the plea.

The farmer said "If any offence is registered against me for cannabis cultivation, the administration will be responsible."

"If he resorts to such an act (cultivating ganja), we will register an offense against him," Mohol police station's senior inspector Ashok Saykar said.

The Farmer even approached state administration for ‘permission’ and gave them an ultimatum.