KABUL (SW) – The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Afghanistan says it has prepared 2,000 hectares of land for the cultivation of saffron and fruits as part of its support for farmers and the promotion of alternative crops to replace opium cultivation.
This initiative is expected to assist 60,000 families across Afghanistan. Stephen Rodriques, head of the UNDP in Afghanistan, stated in a video message on his X account that, in addition to preparing land for alternative crops, the organization has undertaken various other programs to address challenges faced by farmers in accessing alternative cultivation options.
He said: “We are also implementing initiatives such as building irrigation systems, creating climate-resilient farming practices, and providing addiction treatment and marketing support for farmers.”
Kanni Wignaraja, UN Assistant Secretary-General and Regional Director for UNDP in Asia-Pacific, noted that although the Islamic Emirate’s ban on poppy cultivation in Afghanistan in 2022 has reduced global opium production, Afghan farmers have faced severe economic hardships due to the lack of alternative crops.
“Due to the absence of alternative crops, Afghan farmers are facing difficult economic conditions, and after the poppy ban, they have lost one billion dollars in income,” she said.
At the same time, some farmers have complained about their lack of access to alternative crops and have called on the de-facto government to provide them with access to improved seeds.
Gul al-Rahman, a farmer in Helmand, says: “Opium poppy was very profitable and had many benefits. Farmers still do not have access to alternative crops. Our request to the government is that they assist us and provide us with improved seeds.”
Amir Mohammad, another farmer from Badakhshan, says: “We are waiting for alternative crops to be introduced, but we have not received anything. If it were available, why would we plant opium? If we are provided with crops that meet our family’s food needs, we would never resort to poppy cultivation.”
Previously, the media office of the Kandahar provincial government had reported that during a visit to Kandahar, Georgette Gagnon, UN Assistant Secretary-General for Political Affairs, stated that the alternative crop program with the support of various UN agencies would be successfully implemented by 2025.
Officials from the de-facto Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation, and Livestock had previously announced that in the current solar year, the distribution of 35,000 metric tons of improved wheat seeds to farmers has begun, with 30,000 metric tons already distributed across 34 provinces.
