Taliban leader orders ban on poppy cultivation in Afghanistan, warning They will take strict action on Individuals who grow the crop.
Afghanistan is the world’s largest producer of poppy, source of refined sap into heroin, and in Production and exports have only boomed in recent years.
“All Afghans know this from now on,” he added on Agriculture of “Poppy is strictly prohibited throughout the country,” said a decree issued by Supreme Leader Hebatullah Akhundzadeh.
Ranking has been read out by government Zabihullah Mujahid’s spokesman at a gathering of Journalists, foreign diplomats and Taliban officials.
“if anyone Violates the decree will be the crop destroyed Immediately, the violator will be dealt with according to Islamic law. added.
it’s not first the time group has vowed to ban trade. Production is blocked in 2000, just before group Overthrown by US-led forces in waking up of September 11 attacks.
within 20-year rebellion against Foreign forces, the Taliban imposed heavy taxes on farmers who grow the crop in The areas under their control, experts said.
had become key Resources for The group to generate money.
Poppy grower Abdel Rahman told Agence France-Presse (AFP) that the ban imposed on Sunday is a blow to his livelihood.
“We have borrowed to grow this… if these crops are so destroyed “Our income will be lost,” Rahman said. who from the southern province of Kandahar – the de facto Taliban power Center.
“We are also not in love of Growing and feeding this crop up with He. She. we know for us future generations We will be addicted to it but have to cultivate.”
Harsh to enforce the ban
The United States and NATO forces have tried to reduce poppy cultivation for two decades in Afghanistan by paying farmers to grow alternative crops such as wheat or saffron.
But their attempts were thwarted by the Taliban. who controls main Poppy growing areas and hundreds of derivatives of millions of dollars from tradethe experts said.
Author David Mansfield, who wrote a book on Afghanistan’s opium tradehe said that the Taliban would find it difficult to implement latest Ban, where farmers have invested large resources in A crop that was ready to harvest.
“it’s not just The smell of opium (farmers), it’s cash What do you buy after a cold winter? of rising Food prices and the economic crisis,” Mansfield tweeted.
The economic and humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan has worsened since foreign donors were cut off off Aid to the country in The aftermath of Taliban control of Country in August last year.
Mansfield said the ban was an attempt by the Taliban to divert political debate in The state is far from issues such as “girls’ education and human rights.”
Last month the Taliban shut All secondary schools for the girls, just hours After reopening for The first time since the seizure powerEffects international anger.
Afghan media Meanwhile, reports have indicated an increase in poppy production in Two southern provinces, Kandahar and Helmand, since the return of the Taliban powerbut did not provide data.
Afghanistan has a near-monopoly on Accounting for opium and heroin for 80% to 90% of global The output, according to the United Nations office on Drugs and crime.
The amount of land used for poppy cultivation hit a record Average in 2017 and averaged about 250,000 hectares (617,763 acres) in In recent years, nearly four times the level of Mid-nineties, UN figures show.
According to a United Nations survey in 2020, the poppies have grown in 22 of 34 provinces in Afghanistan.
