NT could cash in on Tas poppy industry

THE NT government is pushing through legislation to run a larger-scale poppy growth trial in a bid to expand to the industry.

THE growth of opium poppies is set to expand from Tasmania to the Northern Territory to try to improve Australia's output of the heavily-policed crop.

Opium poppies are now only grown under strict regulations in Tasmania, which supplies about half the world's pharmaceutical opiates.

The NT government is this week urgently bringing forward legislation to allow for the commercialised growing of poppies in the jurisdiction after a successful small-scale trial last year.

Tasmanian Poppy Industries (TPI) has applied for a licence to grow up to 500 hectares of the crop on Tipperary Station, 200km southwest of Darwin, and last year's trial showed very positive results, said Minister for Primary Industry and Fisheries Willem Westra van Holthe.

"(They) showed yields that were equivalent to or better than poppies being grown in Tasmania," he said on Tuesday.

The government has devised a regulatory framework to allow for the legalised growing, processing, storage and transportation of poppy and related products, he said.

"This is an important industry that we want to be a part of, and we want to be a part of Australia's push to be a major supplier of legal opiate products to the world market."

There is not much time left this year to hold the commercial trial, which is why the government is rushing through the legislation, he said.

Growing poppies in the NT as well as in Tasmania will help spread the risk as Tasmania has experienced some poor growing seasons, said TPI executive director Jarrod Ritchie.

"It's a very quick growing crop in the NT ... (this) gives the opportunity of growing two crops in one season."

The NT government is looking at investing about $30 million in the production and processing facilities of its fledgling poppy industry should a larger-scale trial of about 250 hectares be successful.

Mr Ritchie said the gross return is between $2000 and $4000 per hectare, which could be worth millions to the NT.

He said an ageing global population means access to opiates is more important than ever.

"Regrettably, we all know someone who has been treated for or who has died from cancer; the ability of opiate to treat that type of pain is significant," he told AAP.

There is a huge unmet demand, with about 10 per cent of the world's population accessing about 90 per cent of the available opiates, he said.

"There are significant issues about a lack of availability for what is classed an essential medication; there's still this enormous disparity in access to pain relief."