FRANCES mixed farmer Wayne Hawkins believes SA farmers should have an option to grow what they want in their paddocks, including alkaloid poppies.
He commends David Ridgway for being proactive to amend legislation to open the gate for Australia's three licensed poppy companies to enter into contracts with SA growers and hopes the state government will support it.
"The more options we have as farmers the better," Mr Carmichael said.
"It has kept Tas going for 40 years and as more time goes on more poppies will be needed," Mr Hawkins said.
"With a higher world population and a more affluent society there is more stress and more headaches, which need pain relief."
Mr Hawkins believe it will have strong support from SE farmers.
He acknowledges it is a controlled substance but says the industry's tight regulations in all steps of production, from sowing to harvesting and transport, should make it an easy decision for the SA government.
"All the regulations are there to go by so there is no reason why we shouldn't do it," he said.
"It is a crop that is regulated in exactly the same way as road rules, where we must drive on the left hand side of the road and to the speed limit."
Mr Hawkins says farmers near Frances have always been progressive in seeking new crops and have considerable experience in growing high input, high value crops including white clover, lucerne and other small seeds.
"We have the soil, we have the water and we have got the climate. It is growing successfully across the border so why not here?" Mr Hawkins said.
"The only thing being we're half an hour behind (the eastern states in time difference) so the crops may mature a bit later."
With land on both sides of the SA-Vic border Mr Hawkins says it is frustrating having two sets of management rules due to different state legislation.
He would like more uniformity.
"I would love for the border to be moved west 30 kilometres so we could have the same opportunities as everyone else in Vic," he said.
"This is just one of a lot of boxes which should be ticked by the (SA) government. SA is missing out on a lot of big opportunities and falling behind."
If an industry can be established a processing facility in Naracoorte would be an obvious central location to process SA and Vic poppies and this would have flow on effects for employment in the region.
"If it is not here in SA it will be other states, or other countries, who may take up the opportunity and we will miss out. We need to be proactive and make it happen," Mr Hawkins said.