TOKYO, Feb. 6, 2008
U.N.: Bumper Afghan Opium Crop This Year
World Bank Says $2B Needed To Lure Farms Away From Drug Production
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Afghan National Army soldiers stand guard next to seized opium in the town of Musa Qala, Afghanistan, Dec. 15, 2007. (AP Photo/PA)
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The report, by the U.N. Office on Drugs and Crime, said that Afghanistan, in turmoil since a U.S.-led military operation toppled the repressive Taliban regime in 2001, is also steadily increasing its production of marijuana.
Afghanistan supplies some 90 percent of the world's illicit opium, the main ingredient in heroin, and the Taliban rebels fighting the U.S.-led forces receive up to $100 million from the drug trade, the U.N. estimates.
"Indeed, it is the insurgents, the Taliban, that are deriving an enormous funding for their war by imposing ... a 10 percent tax on production," said Antonio Maria Costa, executive director of the U.N. agency.
Today's U.N. report confirmed the extent of the opium problem addressed by yesterday's plea from the World Bank and Britain-based Department for International Development for the world to invest more than $2 billion in irrigation, roads and other rural development in Afghanistan to lure farmers away from booming opium cultivation.
That report argued that the drug trade - Afghanistan's top business - can only be combated if impoverished farmers have other means of making a living.
"Only as poor Afghan farmers gain other economic opportunities will they be able to be weaned away from dependence on opium production over time," William Byrd of the World Bank told reporters in Tokyo, where the report was released.
The report called for the boosting of community-based development projects, expanded irrigation, increased use of livestock, and help for rural businesses and entrepreneurs.
It recommends investments of $1.2 billion to expand irrigated land, $550 million to boost rural enterprise development, and $400 million for rural road planning, construction and maintenance.
Afghanistan cultivated a record 477,000 acres of opium in 2007, a 14 percent increase over the previous year. Total production, spurred by unusually high rainfall, increased even further, by 34 percent.
The one bright spot in the U.N. report, which like the World Bank's, was released on the sidelines of an international meeting on Afghanistan in Tokyo, was that the area under cultivation outside of the rebel strongholds was expected to fall.
That meant overall cultivation area would stay even or fall slightly in 2008, the report said, though wet weather could boost the productivity of each poppy plant.
Costa and Gen. Khodaidad, Afghanistan's acting counter-narcotics minister, attributed the stall in overall growth of cultivation to eradication efforts and programs aimed at convincing farmers to switch to legal crops.
"The pre-planting campaign is the best way to fight drugs in Afghanistan because we involved the local people ... and we're encouraging people not to grow poppy," said Khodaidad, who, like many Afghans, uses one name.
The report showed mixed results in the battle against opium in 2007. Poppy cultivation increased in eight provinces and decreased in 26, including 13 that became poppy-free.
For the coming year, 12 of Afghanistan's provinces - mainly in the central and northern regions - are likely to remain poppy-free, and decreases recorded elsewhere in the east, north and northeast "may result in an overall decrease in poppy cultivation in 2008," the report said.
Nearly a third of villages said they had received cash advances from drug traffickers to grow poppy. All respondents in the southern region and 72 percent in the west said they paid taxes to anti-government entities, including mullahs, local commanders and the Taliban, the report said.
The U.N. report suggested "effective prevention campaigns and eradication efforts" could help control spring cultivation and rid more regions of the crop.
The Senlis Council international policy think tank said, however, that the report showed current approaches were ineffective and counterproductive.
"You need short-term economic incentives and solutions, such as trying to make use of the poppy crop for medicinal use, and producing crops with a high market value, such as saffron," said Jorrit Kamminga, Senlis' director of policy research.
The World Bank report's authors agreed that there are shortcomings in the current efforts and called for greater coordination among Afghanistan's donors, who they said had failed to use their money in complementary ways.
"Assistance is fragmented with 62 donors, many with their own distinct security, political and development interests," said Alastair McKechnie, Afghanistan country director for the World Bank.
None of Afghanistan's legal crops - such as maize, rice or cotton - can match the income from opium poppies, estimated at $2,024 per acre, the report said.
In addition to opium, the survey found an increase in cannabis cultivation, with 18 percent of villages planning to grow it in 2008, compared with 13 percent last year, when some 172,970 acres of cannabis crops were cultivated.
Christina Gynna Oguz, a U.N. representative in Afghanistan, said the study suggested officials should offer incentives to farmers in the more secure north not to grow poppy.
But in the south, officials have to face an alliance between drug traffickers, corrupt officials, and insurgents.
"So there you will have to fight all these three elements, meaning that you must have much more emphasis on interdiction and fighting corruption," she said.
Despite the failure to curb poppy production, Zalmai Afzali, the spokesman for the Ministry of Counter Narcotics, said there would be no major change in the strategy to combat the problem, which he blamed on the lack of security.
The report was issued as Tokyo hosted an annual international conference on the country's reconstruction on Tuesday and Wednesday.
The 24-member Joint Coordinating and Monitoring Board monitors the Afghanistan Compact, a five-year blueprint to promote security, the rule of law, human rights and development.
Afghan Foreign Minister Dadfar Spanta said Kabul planned to destroy 123,500 acres of opium cultivations in 2008, and he called for more international help in the fight to convince farmers not to plant poppy.
"We need technical and financial support from the international community to create a new perspective for Afghan farmers," he told reporters after the Compact talks ended.
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See all 68 CommentsWHY MR. BUSH AREN''T YOU ORDERING THE DESTRUCTION OF ILLEGAL CROPS IN THE FIELDS?????? Who is holding something over your head to keep it from happening????
Who says Bush isn''t helping these poor people out?
Wasn''t half this administration busted running drugs for Iran a while back?
Seems like everything Bu$h ever touched has turned to shiite... Just another incredible falure.
The only reason we don''t destroy the crops is for "political reasons".
Lets end the politics in the war on terrorism.
Destroy the opium crops.
Attack the terrorist organizations and members wherever they are.
I remember the 1st Bush war on drug policy was to get Pablo Escobar of Columbia. After Pablo was killed, 10 new druglords were ready to replace Pablo.
Likewise, if we kill Osama Bin Ladin (OBL), 10 more like him will be ready to replace OBL.
The Talibans must be very happy the Americans are going buying more of their opium. The Taliban used this product to finance their holy war against Americans.
As long as American have a sick life that frequently requires a little ''high'' and excitement with opium, the Taliban and many others around the world are thrilled.
Some good thoughts. The current drug policy is insane.
Strange how the story has changed.
Posted by marcpcbs
If you can''t be polite, then kiss my azz. You are clearly a moron with your "50%" dropout rate post. Now go away.
%u201CWell, take a look at the statistics from the "war on drugs" to date. We have spent billions of dollars on interdiction with little or no reduction in drug flow. This is clearly not the answer. Experts believe the most effective tools are education and treatment for drug users. But our govt has not done a good job in that area....%u201D
WRONG! Experts. What Experts?
That%u2019s like saying to a sailor. %u201CDon%u2019t fix the holes in the hull, just start bailing.%u201D
As long as there are people who choose to cut corners, break laws and hurt others to make a quick buck. AKA criminals, we are going to have to finance a campaign against Drugs, Pedophilia, Bank Robbery, Assault, and so on.
Have we stopped Bank robbers or child molesters? NO. Should we give up on them? NO
I can%u2019t tell if you%u2019re a drug dealer or just stupid.
Posted by telecom_1 at 03:32 PM : Feb 05, 2008
Goodness, what''s that smell? Oops! It''s telecom talking out of his behind.
To refresh your memory, the Taliban did away with the vast majority of opium cultivation, if not all of it, with the help of US money given to them before 9/11 but after AlQaeda was given a base in that country.
See how insane the drug war is? To chose the freaking Taliban over a plant that has been with us since the beginning of humanity.
Why not make sure the Taliban are done for good instead of wasting our soldiers and money in Iraq and go capture Bin Laden once and for all?
That way we can all relax and celebrate by sipping opium tea.
Posted by honestabe8
You are correct. This seems like all show no go to me. The Republicans want to appear tough on crime, so they continue to push this failed and expensive program. But the Dems are also responsible for not pushing to end it. I hope the next president takes a more sane approach to this issue. It makes no sense at all to spend $20 billion per year and incarcerate millions of people (which costs additional billions per year), with little to show for it....
Posted by honestabe8
You are correct. This seems like all show no go to me. The Republicans want to appear tough on crime, so they continue to push this failed and expensive program. But the Dems are also responsible for not pushing to end it. I hope the next president takes a more sane approach to this issue. It makes no sense at all to spend $20 billion per year and incarcerate millions of people (which costs additional billions per year), with little to show for it....
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See all 68 Comments