Press Releases 2006
Opium Poppy Production Remains Low in Nangarhar for 2nd Year
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 18, 2006 Press Office: 1 (202) 216-6288
ext. 4369 0093 (0) 799-187-534 ext. 4369
Email: pkabul@usaid.gov
Nangarhar, Afghanistan – The USAID Alternative Livelihoods Program has again resulted in reduced opium poppy cultivation for the second consecutive year in Nangarhar. This USAID program helps farmers to increase their legal income by growing vegetables and fruits in Nangarhar, Laghman, and Kunar Provinces.
In 2004, Nangarhar produced 28,213 hectares of poppy, but poppy production was reduced to below 5,000 hectares in 2005 and 2006.
USAID, in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture, distributed vegetable seeds and fertilizer to 93,000 farmers and assisted farmers with training in proper growing practices, grading of agricultural products, and marketing of vegetables and fruits. Each of the 93,000 farmers was provided enough vegetable seeds and fertilizer to plant 1 hectare of tomato, okra, cucumber, eggplant, or watermelon. With $4 million in USAID support, the spring vegetable program resulted in an incremental increase in regional vegetable production on 6,800 hectares, yielding 59,000 metric tons of fresh vegetables. The value of this harvest is $10.1 million.
The province is well suited to fruit and nut production due to sufficient water, an extensive irrigation network, and favorable soils and climates. In collaboration with local farmers and the Ministry of Agriculture, USAID established 1,500 hectares of new high-quality orchards in Nangarhar and plans to plant 1,500 more hectares this year. After 5 years, the expected yield will be 13,100 metric tons of fruit bringing gross revenues to local farmers of $13.6 million. After 7 years, the gross revenue should reach $17 million.
Cash-for-Work programs compliment the USAID horticulture programs and provided 151,000 laborers a total of $13 million in wages since the beginning of the program. The Cash-for-Work program provided employment to those who choose not to grow poppy. This program rehabilitates rural infrastructure such as flood protection walls, rural roads, and irrigation canals.
The risk of poppy eradication and law enforcement also influenced farmer’s decisions not to plant poppy. The reduction in poppy production was attributed to the dual influence of eradication measures and the alternative livelihoods program, according to the Afghanistan Research and Evaluation Unit (AREU). AREU reports that “to cultivate opium only to see it destroyed would be foolhardy given the option of cultivating [high-value legal] crops…that not only bring good returns but also provide a constant flow of income due to the staggered nature of the harvests.”