According to the United Nations, the Taliban ruling Afghanistan have made major progress in the fight against opium mining. Opium cultivation has fallen by 95 percent since Islamists banned it last year, according to a UN report on Sunday. In the past, about 90 percent of the world’s opium poppies, the basis for opium and heroin, came from Afghanistan.
According to the UN, the cultivated area in the country last year was more than 233,000 hectares, but this has now fallen to 10,800 hectares. At the same time, wheat cultivation increased.
Farmers need alternative sources of income
In the war- and poverty-stricken country, cultivation of the drug is considered highly profitable and contributes to the survival of many farmers. According to the UN Special Envoy for Afghanistan, almost 80 percent of the Afghan population depends on agriculture. However, the country is struggling with water shortages.
“In the coming months, Afghanistan urgently needs strong investments in sustainable livelihoods to enable Afghan farmers to transition away from opium cultivation,” said Ghada Waly, executive director of the UN Office on Drugs and Crime.
The Taliban have banned poppy cultivation
Taliban Supreme Leader Haibatullah Achunsada banned poppy cultivation by decree in April last year. Although cultivation was already illegal in Afghanistan before the Taliban came to power in August 2021, cultivation was still widespread. Both the Taliban and members of the old foreign-backed government were believed to benefit from the opium trade.
Human rights are severely limited
Since the Taliban came to power in August 2021 and the chaotic withdrawal of international forces, human rights have been drastically reduced. Their rule has recently become increasingly authoritarian and dogmatic.
The Islamists are extremely repressive towards all forms of opposition. Women and girls’ access to education and work is severely limited, as is their freedom of movement in public spaces – for example for medical care and travel.
Source: Krone
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