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26 August 2008
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Opium production decreases in Afghanistan
26/08/2008
The United Nations Office for Drugs and Crime says that opium cultivation in Afghanistan has decreased by almost 20 per cent compared to the record harvest of over 190,000 hectares in 2008.
In its Afghanistan Opium Survey 2008, the agency also notes that the drop in opium production has been less dramatic and is down six per cent.
According to the report, the number of opium free provinces has increased by almost 50 per cent since last year and the large proportion of the opium is grown in just seven provinces in the south-west where there are permanent Taliban settlements.
The report says that strong leadership by some governors has discouraged farmers from plantation with the most impressive result in Nangarhar which moved from being Afghanistan's second highest opium producing province in 2007 to being opium free this year.
The UN Office on Drugs and Crime says that drought has also contributed to crop failure, particularly in the north and north-west where most of the opium is rain-fed.
However, UNODC warns that despite these improvements, the situation is open to setbacks because Afghanistan is one of the poorest countries in the world and the latest food crisis has made farmers more vulnerable.
For United Nations Radio, I'm Dianne Penn.
(duration: 1'19")
In its Afghanistan Opium Survey 2008, the agency also notes that the drop in opium production has been less dramatic and is down six per cent.
According to the report, the number of opium free provinces has increased by almost 50 per cent since last year and the large proportion of the opium is grown in just seven provinces in the south-west where there are permanent Taliban settlements.
The report says that strong leadership by some governors has discouraged farmers from plantation with the most impressive result in Nangarhar which moved from being Afghanistan's second highest opium producing province in 2007 to being opium free this year.
The UN Office on Drugs and Crime says that drought has also contributed to crop failure, particularly in the north and north-west where most of the opium is rain-fed.
However, UNODC warns that despite these improvements, the situation is open to setbacks because Afghanistan is one of the poorest countries in the world and the latest food crisis has made farmers more vulnerable.
For United Nations Radio, I'm Dianne Penn.
(duration: 1'19")