Lucknow, April 16 :    Lucknow, April 16:  Say no to drugs. But never say no if poppy comes to your kitchen as Sujata. Indian scientists have scored a global first by developing a strain of opium-free poppy, christened Sujata. The new variety is not only the answer to the global fight against opium-linked abuses but also a rich source of cholesterol-free edible oil. J.R. Sharma, a scientist at the Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants, said the patenting process of Sujata is almost over and the new variety is all set to hit the market. Sharma had toiled for eight years to genetically convert narcotic opium poppy into a non-narcotic strain. 'It will solve a lot of problems relating to the manufacture and smuggling of opium, especially in places like Uttar Pradesh, which records a large sale of opium,' said Pushpangadan, the institute's director. The scientists at the institute are thrilled about a letter of acknowledgement from the United Nations Drug Control Programme, which congratulated them saying that until now there was no such variety in the world and that it will usher in a new chapter in the use of poppy as an edible seed and oil source. Last year, India imported around 4,484 tonnes of poppy seed, which scientists now say could be a thing of the past. 'We can (even) start exporting it,' Sharma said. Demand for edible poppy is high in Germany, the US and the Netherlands. The opium-less variety developed by the institute not only has a high calorie content but is also rich in proteins. With 52 per cent oil content - much higher than that of mustard at 42 per cent - Sujata is a better option for making vegetable oil. Sujata has 75 per cent unsaturated fatty acids. Scientists said it drastically reduces the risk of cholesterol-linked diseases. 'We have received applications from Japan and the US to jointly market Sujata, but we will be much wiser this time,' Pushpangadan said. India had lost many a trade war by giving samples to foreign countries before getting a patent themselves. The only hitch, a scientist said, is the dilly-dallying by the Indian Narcotics Commission. 'They are not coming forward to do the registration because that will hamper their business. But once we get the patent they will have to give in.' Samples have been sent to the International Narcotics Commission where they have been tested. The institute's scientists are sure they will receive a positive reply. 'There are a few techno-legal problems though,' says Sharma. He feels that Sujata should only be grown in non-traditional areas because of the danger of cross-pollination. Farmers growing it should be registered and a tab kept on them so that they do not grow opium-poppy in Sujata fields. 'This is very important because both varieties look the same,' Sharma said. Scientists are looking into ways of getting around this problem. 'We will introduce genetic differences but that will take time, maybe 10 more years,' said a scientist.