Opium Cultivation in Afghanistan

Opium Cultivation in Afghanistan Name Affiliation Course Tutor Opium Cultivation in Afghanistan Afghanistan is the leading producer of Opium in the World. The country produces approximately 90% of the Opium used globally (Doran & Quraishi, n.d.). The highest populations of people in this nation live in rural areas depending on farming as the only source of income. Since the weather in Afghanistan is very hot or cold in most cases, other cash crops can't yield good harvests. The farmers say that the climate is always favorable for the growth of poppies. Opium gives good returns leading to most people in the country growing the crop while ignoring other plants. The local farmers in Afghanistan depended on Opium as a significant source of income before the eradication programs instituted by the government. Importance of Opium in Afghanistan Since the production of Opium in Afghanistan exceeds global demand, most farmers are sure of a ready market for the product. All the individuals involved in the cultivation of opium deliver the product to drug smugglers. If the farmers are poor and can’t afford the cost of maintaining the growth of poppies, the drug dealers give them loans. The agreement behind the debt is to pay specific amounts of kilos of opium after harvest. However, as long as the deal may seem friendly, the smugglers don’t take excuses for payment. Such people desire immediate payments as per the sealed deals. People living in the most remote areas continue with the growth of Opium despite government involvement to eradicate poppies in the other parts of the country. The farmers are sure that the government can't reach out to outcasts of the significant towns. Such communities are led by elders who make laws and settle disputes between the members of the community. For example, if an individual offends another person, they are forced to give the offended a piece of land. In other incidences, they offer their daughters for marriage despite the age of the girl in the offenders' family (Doran & Quraishi, n.d.). Such communities grow poppies in peace, and then the smugglers travel to buy the product from the interior areas. The individuals living in such places say that outsiders don't know about the activity because people like journalists don't tour such sites. The isolation in the remote areas has helped the communities by allowing them to continue growing the eradicated drug. Such communities testify that the land is the only source of income. The cultivation of Opium in Afghanistan had created a continuous source of income for many people. The wise and established farmers used the revenue generated to build their families and communities. For instance, one woman used the money earned to buy his son a car that could get used as a taxi (Hoonsuwan, 2012). This woman made a bold move because even if the government decides to destroy all the poppies, she will still have a sustainable source of income. Another group of women trained in the Taliban regime implemented the methods learned and gained a good har...