Poppy Cultivation Funds Terrorism In Afghanistan

Although billions dollars were invested by the world community and the Afghan government in the last thirteen years for eradication of poppy cultivation but still Afghanistan is one of the biggest opium producers in the world. Why the efforts of the government and the global community in the last thirteen years were not effective? What was the reason behind increase of addicts’ number? Why alternative should be given to farmers? And additional numbers of questions were discussed in a free Jirga with government authorities, lawmakers, experts and representatives of 34 provinces. Deen Mohammad Mubarez Rashidi former acting minister of counter narcotics who was one of the participants of this free Jirga said, “Despite the efforts of the Afghan government and the world community in the last thirteen years, Afghanistan is still among the drug producers in the world. I believe in the first step, rule of law should be implemented for prevention of poppy cultivation and drug production. According to constitution and the law on war on drugs, all departments of the Afghan government have to fight drugs. Because drug cultivation, production and trafficking is crime.
Talking on this issue that why poppy alternative should be given to farmers, Rashidi said, “Based on law, if alternative is given or not given, no one is allowed to cultivate poppy, produce or consume drug and traffic it. If only for the help of farmers, alternative is given to farmers, it is good if the government afford it. Since thirteen years that the Afghan government has been fighting poppy cultivation, the alternative livelihood has been one of the four cases of war on drugs. But the government should improve agriculture, so there would be no more excuse to farmers to cultivate poppy. Talking on the relations between farmers’ economic situation and poppy cultivation Rashidi went on to say, “If we don’t care alternative livelihood in Afghanistan, and say that if the farmers don’t cultivate poppy, what they should eat this in fact itself is an excuse for increase of poppy cultivation in Afghanistan, because the alternative livelihood undertaken by the Afghan government and the world community for the farmers only will be meeting their ten percent needs and the rest will remain.
Mentioning the fifteen province in which poppy is not cultivated Rashidi said, “This is not true if we say that if the farmers don’t cultivate poppy, what to eat. And the fifteen other provinces should also cultivate poppy. Therefore it could be an excuse for poppy cultivation. Those farmers who cultivate poppy, violate the constitution, they are a threat to security, shed the people blood and bring misfortune to our youth.
What solution would be followed by the upcoming administration for prevention of poppy cultivation in Afghanistan, Rashidi said, “The only solution that can rescue the country from misfortune is enforcing and implementation of law, having firm political determination, acceptance of Islamic values, tackling the farmer’s problems, creation of coordination among responsible bodies in the direction of prevention of poppy cultivation and sincere cooperation of the world community. Nasima Niazi a female lawmaker from Helmand while considering lack of government attention to improve farmers living condition as one of the reasons behind increase of poppy cultivation in Afghanistan despite huge investments  said, “In the last thirteen years the government unfortunately has not provided better living conditions for our youth and farmers, has not implemented public utility projects.
So, unemployment and poverty are the reasons behind increase of poppy cultivation in Afghanistan. While poppy cultivation brings more benefit to international mafia and less advantage to farmers. Helmand is one of the provinces that unfortunately have been hunted by this sinister phenomenon. Insecurity and lack of government attention have caused increase of poppy cultivation. She also considers alternative livelihood to farmers as one of the solutions that could be effective for prevention of poppy cultivation. Ms. Niazi added, “If job opportunities be available to our youth, they will not resort to drugs. Bordering with neighboring countries and migration of Afghans to these countries have caused large number of Afghans be addicted to drugs. So the government should put creation of employment at the top of its priorities and should have firm determination for elimination of this nasty phenomenon and the international community should also act seriously. Former MoCN Gen. Khodaidad considering alternative livelihood as one of the effective means for prevention of poppy cultivation, said, “Unfortunately the government has failed in the last thirteen years to implement the farmers opinions for alternative livelihood and opium replacement, properly. There was no suitable coordination between the MoCN and the world community. In the provinces lack of coordination between governors and security authorities have caused increase of poppy cultivation and number of addicts.
Considering illegal the poppy cultivation, production and trafficking according to Islam religion and the constitution, he emphasizes that opium funds terrorism war in Afghanistan. If the Afghan government doesn’t implement serious measures for elimination of this phenomenon, until 2016, its control will be out of authority of the government.
Hashim Alokozai a senator from Helmand province and a local tribal elder said, “If in the last thirteen years attention was focused for improvement of agriculture and the farmers living condition, today no one, no farmer would have been planted poppy in no province of Afghanistan. Helmand is a province is that grows the best cotton and marketing grounds should have been paved for this product. Lack of attention to farmers’ requirement has caused increase of poppy cultivation. He added, In order Afghanistan regain its proper position among the world countries and the Afghan people not to be considered as the biggest opium producers, all government bodies  including provincial governors, district governors, and security authorities should establish coordination among themselves for implementation of the rule of law. Suraya Raiszada