Afghanistan | The Taliban banned opium poppy cultivation – Now farmers have died in clashes

From satellite images in conclusion, the Taliban extremist group that leads Afghanistan has almost succeeded in ending the cultivation of the opium poppy, but the issue is still being fought fiercely at the grassroots level.

Poppy farmers have even died in violence that has flared up between farmers who defied the growing ban and Taliban fighters.

In early May, at least two people were killed in Badakhshan when anti-narcotics forces attempted to destroy crops in parts of the province during the spring harvest in Darayim and Argo. In addition, six people were injured.

“The locals were throwing rocks and pieces of wood [Talebanin viranomaisia] and tried to burn their vehicles and equipment,” the police said, according to news agency AFP, at the beginning of May.

in Afghanistan the Taliban, who returned to power, banned opium poppy cultivation more than two years ago as against religion and harmful. Before that, the country was the largest exporter of opium and heroin, and for many farmers poppy cultivation was a profitable business.

According to the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), production collapsed by up to 95 percent last year due to the ban. While this was good news for anti-narcotics, it meant a 92 percent drop in income for Afghan farmers last year.

There have been attempts to encourage farmers to switch to growing other crops, but none of them are as profitable. In March, the price of opium on the world market had risen by up to 124 percent during the year. According to the UNODC, a kilogram of opium now costs an average of 800 to 1,000 dollars. Therefore, some farmers have secretly continued to grow poppies despite the ban.

The Taliban also banned opium production in 2000, just before US-led forces overthrew the then Taliban regime. At that time too, the price rose drastically after the cultivation ban, but the Taliban made a tidy profit by selling their stocks and used them to finance their own activities.

of the Taliban regime spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid announced that a high-level committee had been sent to investigate the “tragic events” of early May and added that poppy cultivation would be eradicated from all areas of Afghanistan without exception.

Similar deadly violence was seen in Badakhshan already last year when an attempt was made to eradicate the poppies. There has also been unrest in the eastern province of Nangarhar.

Mujahid said the Afghan administration has asked for help from the international community so that other countries would help Afghan farmers switch to other crops. According to Mujahid, however, the request for cooperation has not been answered.

The Taliban’s so-called Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan has not been officially recognized by the world.

Farmers however, the Taliban has allowed those poppy farmers with whom it has good relations to continue farming. According to the residents, the forces spread panic and use violence indiscriminately.

A 29-year-old resident of the Argo area told AFP that anti-narcotics squads raid houses and break down doors when they come looking for clandestine crops.

“When people resist, they shoot them,” said the resident, speaking anonymously for fear of Taliban retaliation.