Banerjee said that not all poppies are drugs. "We have said that we will cultivate it in agriculture farms, we have several such farms. If we can grow poppy in our state we will get them at Rs 100 (per kg), instead of Rs 1,000. At times, we have to take decisions unanimously. Not all poppies are drugs," she claimed. West Bengal has been trying to get permission for the cultivation of the highly-regulated crop as poppy seeds are integral to the Bengali cuisine.?Banerjee was speaking on budget discussions relating to the Food and Supplies Department.

"Our farmers are earning better now. They are earning four-fold now. Our scientists have done some research work, which helped us in several ways. I had given them this idea. Politically, a few people think I am an idiot. This is my bad luck that I am not acceptable to them," she said. Banerjee said that as the Centre gave tax relief to basmati, it should extend similar benefits to gobindobhog and tulaipanji varieties of rice produced in West Bengal.