Afghanistan’s Poppy boom

The POST, Sun, Sep,30, 2007.

Pervaiz Iqbal Cheema

According to a UN report poppy cultivation in Afghanistan has increased by 17 percent this year over the last year. This clearly indicates that all is not well in Afghanistan. However it needs to be stressed that the American officials are reportedly praising the Afghanistan’s progress in its fight against poppy cultivation. 

Mr. Christy McCampbell, the head of Bureau for International Narcotic and Law Enforcement, said that not only the Bush administration is fully aware of the difficulties confronting the Afghan President but also conscious of the increase of poppy cultivation in some areas whereas the efforts to end poppy cultivation in some other areas are producing positive results. However he stressed that increase in poppy cultivation is only taking place in the Southern part of Afghanistan. 

He stressed that the situation in the northern parts of Afghanistan is totally different. There exists a marked difference in poppy cultivation between the northern and southern parts of Afghanistan. He said that thirteen Northern provinces are totally poppy free. According to Mr. McCampbell the increase in poppy cultivation is exclusively restricted to southern regions of Afghanistan where the Talibans enjoy more influence. 

Mr. Campbell emphasized that US wants Afghanistan to increase its efforts against poppy cultivators. ‘President Bush looks to the government of Afghanistan to take further steps to combat poppy cultivation and corruption’, said Mr. Campbell. While acknowledging that Afghanistan is facing many challenges, Mr. McCampbell stated that not addressing an important challenge like drug menace could undermine security, compromise democratic legitimacy and imperil international support that is deemed so essential for Afghanistan’s developmental activities. 

The UN office on Drug and Crimes in its Annual Opium Survey Report revealed that the production of drugs has increased by 34 percent this year. The UN report released in August categorically stated that the production of opium had reached a frightening level. It was also highlighted that the numbers of heroin laboratories that process the opium to transform it into heroin have also multiplied. 

Both the US and UK launched a multi-million dollar program to eradicate poppy cultivations but have so far been unable to secure the desired and anticipated dividends. Compared to 2006 when the deadly opium harvest was around 6000 tons, this year crop has touched 8200 tons. It is alleged that only 14% of Afghan population is actively involved in poppy cultivation but Afghanistan itself is supplying 80% of world’s opium. It has been reported that area for poppy cultivation has increased from 165000 hectares in 2006 to 193000 hectares in 2007. 

Most of the lucrative markets for drugs are in the western countries and as long as the demand is constant in those countries, the production of the deadly harvest would continue. Among the 20 major drug-transit and drug-producing countries, Afghanistan is identifies as one of major producer and supplier of the drug. The other major producers and suppliers in Asia are the Myanmar and Laos. 

The UN has been urging the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) and NATO forces to make concerted efforts to eradicate poppy cultivation and eliminate drug trafficking in Afghanistan. The UN drug official also suggested that all those farmers who have left poppy cultivation should be rewarded by the international community. In addition it was also recommended that in areas where the poppy cultivation has stopped, facilities like school hospitals, road, and transport should not only be provided but also increased substantaively. 

Since drug trafficking and insurgency live off each other, it was expected that both ISAF and NATO would undertake effective measures to control this menace but not much advances were witnessed in this direction. Many of the UN officials have expressed their suspicions about the involvement of many Karazai’s close associates. The government and the President of Afghanistan, on the other hand, consistently indulge in regular criticism of international community and stress the failure of the international community to frame a realistic counter drug policy for Afghanistan. The Karazai regime puts the blame entirely on the west for the current unprecedented poppy harvest. 

The drug menace of Afghanistan is gradually increasing and widening its impact area. The connection between drugs, corruption and insurgency are now so deep that the situation cannot be dealt with simplistic pursuits such as restricting the poppy cultivation to certain areas. Not only the Afghan official are deeply involved but it seems that Taliban also have access to drugs generated funds. 

By the beginning of year 2006, the drug economy was equal to 50-60% of Afghanistan’s GDP and more than 80% world’s heroin. Prior to 2006, Afghanistan witnessed some drop in poppy cultivation but it was not all that impressive. In fact 2007 has seen marked increase in both poppy cultivation and drags trafficking. To deal with menace a comprehensive approach is required.  Simple crackdown on the growers would merely deprive some Afghans farmers their easiest and lucrative source of income but only for a short time. 

An Afghan farmer involved in poppy cultivation expects to earn around $4,500 annually but if grows other traditional crop like wheat or vegetables; he expects to earn in between $500 to $600. The gap between earning is too tempting to indulge in poppy farming. And if the government cracks down in his area and do not offer other incentives, the farmer is likely to go to the areas where not much is questioned and begin to cultivate poppy again. Even the American officials are arguing that the increase in the poppy cultivation is mostly in Taliban controlled areas. Implicitly they are highlighting that the area which their forces are controlling, the poppy cultivation and the production of drug is on the decline. 

Undoubtedly the drug menace of Afghanistan got massive encouragement from the American themselves. After the overthrow of Taliban regime the American allowed the Warlords to     reestablish their hold in many parts of Afghanistan. Soon these warlords began to cultivate opium at a large scale as it fetched lot of money and Americans initially turned a blind eye to it as they needed the support of these Warlords to strengthen their installed Karazai regime in Kabul and to keep Taliban at bay. The situation worsened when the American decided to shift the focus from Afghanistan to Iraq.

Admittedly the recent American efforts clearly point towards their earnest realization about the gravity of this menace and concerted efforts are being undertaken to effectively deal with it but it is a well acknowledged fact that it would take quite sometime to eliminate this menace now. However it needs to be stressed here that idea like buying the entire harvest at a price which is being offered by those who transform opium into heroin and then supplying opium to legitimate users like pharmaceutical industry. This approach would deprive the drug making laboratories the supply of most essential commodity but may not altogether curb drug trafficking drastically as the drug baron could arrange to have essential supplies from other producers. But there is no doubt that such a policy would have positive impact and would make things extremely difficult for Drug Barons.

The writer works for Islamabad Policy research Institute.