Posted on Jun 2, 2022
Afghanistan dominates global opium production. The Taliban is shutting that down
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https://www.npr.org/2022/06/02/ [login to see] /afghanistan-opium-heroin-taliban-poppy-farmers-ban
Afghanistan's Taliban rulers have begun a campaign to eradicate poppy cultivation, aiming to wipe out the country's massive production of opium and heroin, even as farmers fear their livelihoods will be ruined at a time of growing poverty.
On a recent day in Washir district in southern Helmand province, armed Taliban fighters stood guard as a tractor tore up a field of poppies. The field's owner stood nearby, watching.
The Taliban, who took power in Afghanistan more than nine months ago, issued an edict in early April banning poppy cultivation throughout the country.
Afghanistan's Taliban rulers have begun a campaign to eradicate poppy cultivation, aiming to wipe out the country's massive production of opium and heroin, even as farmers fear their livelihoods will be ruined at a time of growing poverty.
On a recent day in Washir district in southern Helmand province, armed Taliban fighters stood guard as a tractor tore up a field of poppies. The field's owner stood nearby, watching.
The Taliban, who took power in Afghanistan more than nine months ago, issued an edict in early April banning poppy cultivation throughout the country.
Afghanistan dominates global opium production. The Taliban is shutting that down
Posted from npr.org
Afghanistan
Drugs
Taliban
Posted 2 y ago
Responses: 2
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Not sure what else can grow there, but it would be a good year to grow wheat if they can
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LTC Eugene Chu
Saffron grows in Afghanistan, but military veteran founders of one company are unsure if they can stay in business for the long long-term.
https://www.stripes.com/veterans/2022-02-08/veterans-afghanistan-business-taliban-saffron-4808141.html
https://www.stripes.com/veterans/2022-02-08/veterans-afghanistan-business-taliban-saffron-4808141.html
Leave Afghanistan? Veteran-run businesses face hard decisions after Taliban takeover
Some American veterans who invested in Afghanistan have closed up shop following the Taliban’s ascent to power, while others say business, in some ways, is now easier.
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SPC Steven Depuy
LTC Eugene Chu - I just thought they were saying there was going to be a huge shortage of wheat due to the war. But thats an arid place I think, never been there myself, but it does not look like a great place to farm.
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LTC Eugene Chu
SPC Steven Depuy - Ukraine is a breadbasket, but Russian invasion hinders Ukraine's efforts to feed itself and export grain to pay bills. Poppy and saffron do grow relatively well in Afghanistan arid climate, but not too much else.
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PO1 William "Chip" Nagel
..."'We will not earn anything'
But the ban will likely strike a heavy blow to millions of impoverished farmers and day laborers who rely on proceeds from the crop to survive. The ban comes as Afghanistan's economy has collapsed, cut off from international funding in the wake of the Taliban takeover. Most of the population struggles to afford food, and the country has been suffering under its worst drought in years.
Noor Mohammed, who owns one poppy field in Washir that was torn apart by Taliban tractors, said his plot of land is small and lacks water, so he can't survive by growing less profitable crops.
"If we are not allowed to cultivate this crop, we will not earn anything," he said of his poppies.
Day laborers can earn upwards of $300 a month harvesting opium from the poppies. Villagers often rely on the promise of the upcoming poppy harvest to borrow money for staples such as flour, sugar, cooking oil and heating oil.
Helmand is the heartland of poppy cultivation in Afghanistan. It appeared the new eradication campaign was targeting mainly those who planted their crops after the ban was announced. Many others who had planted earlier succeeded in harvesting, going from plant to plant, slicing the poppy's bulb, then scooping up the sap that oozes out, the raw material for opium."...
..."'We will not earn anything'
But the ban will likely strike a heavy blow to millions of impoverished farmers and day laborers who rely on proceeds from the crop to survive. The ban comes as Afghanistan's economy has collapsed, cut off from international funding in the wake of the Taliban takeover. Most of the population struggles to afford food, and the country has been suffering under its worst drought in years.
Noor Mohammed, who owns one poppy field in Washir that was torn apart by Taliban tractors, said his plot of land is small and lacks water, so he can't survive by growing less profitable crops.
"If we are not allowed to cultivate this crop, we will not earn anything," he said of his poppies.
Day laborers can earn upwards of $300 a month harvesting opium from the poppies. Villagers often rely on the promise of the upcoming poppy harvest to borrow money for staples such as flour, sugar, cooking oil and heating oil.
Helmand is the heartland of poppy cultivation in Afghanistan. It appeared the new eradication campaign was targeting mainly those who planted their crops after the ban was announced. Many others who had planted earlier succeeded in harvesting, going from plant to plant, slicing the poppy's bulb, then scooping up the sap that oozes out, the raw material for opium."...
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PO1 William "Chip" Nagel
SGT (Join to see) Getting Rid of Poppies, Heroin is an Excellent Goal but Need to Find a Crop that will keep the Farmers Afloat.
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