-Caveat Lector- Print this article | Close this window Afghanistan producing most opium in the world
March 28 2003 Kabul: Ignoring a presidential ban on opium production, Afghan farmers are growing more opium poppies than ever throughout the country, including areas previously free of the crop, officials said today. The deposed Taliban regime had wiped out opium production. But farmers began planting poppies -- from which opium is harvested and made into heroin -- when the militia was ousted in 2001 because the plant brings in hundreds of times more in revenue than other crops. "Farmers tend to cultivate opium poppy in increasingly remote and inaccessible areas," said Mirwais Yassini, chief of the government's Counter-Narcotics Directorate. "As a result, opium poppy cultivation was reported in several districts for the first time." Although overall production in Afghanistan was up, Yassini said production did decline in the provinces of Helmand, Kandahar, Nangarhar and Uruzgan - the centre of opium production. The findings were from a survey conducted last month in 134 districts by the UN Office for Drug Control and Crime Prevention and the Counter- Narcotics Directorate. A more complete survey will be conducted over the next four months and the results will be released in September, Yassini told reporters. The report was not made public today and Yassini did not provide further details. The UN drug agency has said opium production has soared to 3750 tonnes last year, making Afghanistan the world's No. 1 producer again. The rise came despite a ban announced by President Hamid Karzai's government in April. The government also had offered farmers $US1250 ($A2,095) per hectare of destroyed poppy. But the ban did little to dissuade farmers, who can earn as much as $US16,000 ($A26,800) per hectare for the crop. There were also accusations of corruption and money not getting to the farmers. Today, Yassini said the government lacks the funds this year to offer a similar cash incentive. "Last year we wanted to give them some cash subsidies for their needs, but this year we are out of resources," Yassini told The Associated Press. Yassini said the government is exploring alternative livelihoods and crops to wean farmers off poppy cultivation. He said Iran had given $US3.5 million ($A5.9 million) and the United States had given $US4 million ($A6.7 million) toward the effort. AP This story was found at: http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2003/03/28/1048653835666.html Forwarded for your information. The text and intent of the article have to stand on their own merits. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. section 107, this material is distributed without charge or profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving this type of information for non-profit research and educational purposes only. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "Do not believe in anything simply because you have heard it. Do not believe simply because it has been handed down for many genera- tions. Do not believe in anything simply because it is spoken and rumoured by many. Do not believe in anything simply because it is written in Holy Scriptures. Do not believe in anything merely on the authority of teachers, elders or wise men. Believe only after careful observation and analysis, when you find that it agrees with reason and is conducive to the good and benefit of one and all. Then accept it and live up to it." The Buddha on Belief, from the Kalama Sutra <A HREF="http://www.ctrl.org/";>www.ctrl.org</A> DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER ========== CTRL is a discussion & informational exchange list. Proselytizing propagandic screeds are unwelcomed. Substance—not soap-boxing—please! These are sordid matters and 'conspiracy theory'—with its many half-truths, mis- directions and outright frauds—is used politically by different groups with major and minor effects spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought. That being said, CTRLgives no endorsement to the validity of posts, and always suggests to readers; be wary of what you read. CTRL gives no credence to Holocaust denial and nazi's need not apply. Let us please be civil and as always, Caveat Lector. ======================================================================== Archives Available at: http://peach.ease.lsoft.com/archives/ctrl.html <A HREF="http://peach.ease.lsoft.com/archives/ctrl.html";>Archives of [EMAIL PROTECTED]</A> http://archive.jab.org/[EMAIL PROTECTED]/ <A HREF="http://archive.jab.org/[EMAIL PROTECTED]/">ctrl</A> ======================================================================== To subscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SUBSCRIBE CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] To UNsubscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SIGNOFF CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] Om
