Opium prices tripled as a result of the Taliban instructing a ban on poppy cultivation



It was reported that the price of opium, a drug made from poppies, has nearly tripled as

the Taliban, an Islamist organization that controlled Afghanistan, called for a ban on poppy cultivation in the country.

Taliban Move to Ban Opium Production in Afghanistan --WSJ
https://www.wsj.com/articles/taliban-afghanistan-heroin-ban-opium-production-11630181316



The Wall Street Journal, an overseas newspaper, reported that the Taliban have begun to tell domestic farmers that they will 'ban the cultivation of poppies.' And, as a result of the uncertain future of production due to the announcement from the Taliban, the price of opium is about 70 dollars (about 7700 yen) to about 200 dollars (about 7700 yen) per kg

in Kandahar and Urzugan states where poppies are cultivated. It is said that it has risen to 22000 yen). When the Taliban held a press conference on August 17, 2021, Taliban spokeswoman Zabifra Mujahid said, 'The new government will suspend drug trafficking in Afghanistan.'

However, Afghanistan is a major opium producing country that is said to export about 80% of the opium distributed in the world. Due to Afghanistan's arid climate and poor storage infrastructure, poppies are one of the few cash crops that local farmers can produce, and if banned, they can suffer from hunger. A local farmer told The Wall Street Journal, 'The Taliban told me to grow other crops like saffron . Unfortunately for the farmer, if the Taliban enforced a ban, they would have to obey. '.


by

United Nations Photo

The United States has been trying to curb opium business in Afghanistan for 20 years, but failed because of a backlash from Afghan farmers who make a living from poppy cultivation. The Wall Street Journal points out that while the Taliban's ban on cultivation could eradicate the opium business, it could deprive the public of important sources of revenue and reduce public support for the Taliban. increase.

The United States has frozen the assets of the Afghan government in its domestic banks to block access to the Taliban, and the Taliban, which is unable to receive foreign aid, is under pressure to stop the economic collapse of Afghanistan. Future trends will be closely watched on the effects of the opium ban, which poses a political risk to the Taliban.


by Defense Images

Related Posts:

in Posted by log1p_kr