A batch of opium poppies – a revered alkaloid notionally associated with Tasmania – is about to be harvested close to Ballarat, and early signs suggest it’s here to stay. 

Australia’s three largest poppy manufacturers – GlaxoSmithKline, Tasmanian Alkaloids and TPI Enterprises Ltd – have conducted secret trial plots of the crop across Victoria over the past two years, however only one has grown a commercial crop after Victoria passed legislation in May allowing cultivation of opium poppies on its land.

TPI has between 800 and 1000 hectares of poppies in remote locations across the state – a third of which is believed to be around Ballarat – and plans to increase its crop fourfold by next year. 

Local farmer Lawrence Gallagher, exasperated by paltry potato prices, took the plunge and planted 16 hectares of poppies in August after months of research.

Well versed in the benefits of “cash crops”, Mr Gallagher, who has grown pyrethrum in the past, was seemingly drawn in by the lure of big returns.

Depending on the season and the strength of the crop, opium poppies can give farmers returns of upwards of $10,000 a hectare.

However, the allure of cash is tempered by risk. 

The risk of growing a legal drug is not lost on Mr Gallagher, who patrols the perimeter of his crop each day. 

“We’re not allowed to grow the crop on a paddock near the school, or near the township,” he said. 

Tasmania, which grows the world’s largest poppy crop, has had three poppy-related deaths over the past three years.

The most recent was a Danish traveller who died in February of suspected poppy poisoning after drinking a batch of poppy tea, believed to have been brewed from stolen poppy capsules (heads). 

Worryingly, despite the rehashed warning messages from Tasmanian industry groups, theft of poppy capsules remains consistent. 

In an eight-month period from July 2013, 2657 capsules were stolen from across Tasmania, News Ltd reported. 

Tasmania was earmarked as a poppy-growing haven in the 1960s because of its temperate climate and sparse population.

According to Mr Gallagher, growing the crop in more populous areas causes additional problems, which explains the secret trials and the strict growing regulations.

“It (regulation from government departments) is stronger here than it is in Tassie,” said Mr Gallagher, who had to apply for two police checks before he got the green light to grow the crop.

Mr Gallagher said his financial statements were also assessed by government officials – the fear being if a farmer was at threat of insolvency he would divert the crop down more sinister avenues.

Padlocked gates and fences plastered with warning signs border Mr Gallagher’s healthy crop, but that’s it.

“A normal fence isn’t going to stop anyone. If they want to get in there, they’ll get in there,” he said.

“It’s like anything. No matter what you do, you can’t stop someone getting in your house if they want to get in.”

Backpackers were the main concern for Mr Gallagher, who said they might not be averse to “jumping the fence, grabbing a few heads and leaving”. 

“If you just took one or two poppy heads, it would be really hard (to die),” he said.

Some crops in Tasmania are under CCTV surveillance, according to Mr Gallagher. That is worlds apart from crops in Turkey, which are subject to armed guard.

However, a crucial distinction between Tasmanian and Victorian crops is the narcotic content.

Since the 1960s, Tasmania has grown opium poppies and converted them into morphine.

But over recent years, the apple isle has grown thebaine poppies for codeine, in response to the increased international demand for pain-relief medication. 

Popular medications like Nurofen contain codeine. 

Thebaine, if unprocessed, is considered a highly toxic, potentially deadly substance.

However, Victorian poppies are grown for their morphine.

“This one (morphine) won’t hurt as much,” said Mr Gallagher, who has had a couple of late-night false alarms with his crop.

Victoria Police spokeswoman Jessica Foulds said so far no criminal offences had been reported to police at properties where poppy crops were grown in the greater Ballarat area.

“Alkaloid poppies (whether fresh or dried) are a drug of dependence and, without a legislative exemption, it is a criminal offence to possess this substance, ranging from small quantities through to large commercial quantities,” she said. 

Security and surveillance measures to restrict access of unauthorised people to crops and harvested material was a requirement of legislation in the Drugs Poisons and Controlled Substances Act, she said.

Aside from criminal issues, manufacturers in Tasmania have been trying to raise awareness of the dangers of ingesting raw poppies.

Their website – notyouraveragepoppy.com.au – is unlikely to be replicated in Victoria, however, with the Department of Economic Development, Jobs, Transport and Resources (DEDJTR) adopting a cagey stance on the subject. 

“Further information will be made publicly available and will focus on the regions and groups of people who may come into contact with alkaloid poppy crops,” a DEDJTR spokeswoman said. 

The government was working with “stakeholders” and “community groups” to raise awareness of the dangers of illegal and improper use of alkaloid poppies, she said.

william.vallely@fairfaxmedia.com.au