Czech Republic is one of the largest producers of poppy seeds in the world, with 80 percent of the harvest being exported. However, farmers are facing increasing challenges. Little rainfall and rising temperatures are affecting the growth of the plants and making them more susceptible to pests. We accompany two farmers who cultivate poppies in different ways. The external conditions are the same for both: pests and the impacts of climate change make it difficult for them to reliably plan and carry out the harvest.

One of them is František Pospíšil. His family has been growing poppy seeds for generations, but now he is unsure if he can continue this tradition much longer. His hope is that his namesake son will one day take over the farm and the business. František is doing everything he can to make it as easy as possible for the next generation. The son is already actively involved in poppy production. This summer, the family plans to harvest 30 tons of poppy. However, the weevil is causing significant economic damage. František is worried that this pest will make his goal a major challenge—especially since poppy production is his main business.

150 kilometers from František lives poppy farmer and family man Jiří Marek. He too is facing the effects of climate change. Jiří relies on natural farming methods and avoids using chemicals entirely. Protecting animals and ensuring sustainable soil preservation are particularly important to him. Therefore, he plants other crops more frequently to preserve the soil and avoids the conflicts that intensive poppy farming can bring. Still, he too is battling the weevil. Unlike František, Jiří views the pest as part of nature. Together with his wife Marcela, he processes the poppy into products like oil, seeds, and pastries, which they then sell locally. Whether the harvest this year will be sufficient for the family to live on remains to be seen.

This report follows two poppy farmers who approach poppy cultivation and pest control in different ways. The yields, the advancing climate change, and the impact of pests could determine how much longer they can continue their poppy production in the future.