Afghanistan in Hunger Crisis; Farmers Battle to Sustain Poppy Cultivation

DIDPress: The Print reported that despite billions of dollars invested in the fight against narcotics, poppy cultivation persists, with groups like the Mujahideen, the Taliban, and criminal organizations exploiting it for financial and military power.

In northern Afghanistan, particularly in Badakhshan, clashes have erupted between farmers and Taliban forces over the ban on poppy cultivation.

Tajik farmers in the village of Shahran have witnessed the execution of several fellow villagers.

Following the poppy ban, fields have been repurposed for wheat cultivation. However, wheat is a low-yield, low-value crop, pushing millions of Afghanistanis to the brink of starvation.

For generations, poppy has been a source of income for impoverished farmers, shielding them from droughts and agricultural failures.

U.S. anti-narcotics policies, along with the caretaker government’s efforts to gain international legitimacy, have led to the poppy ban—but at the cost of widespread hunger and the collapse of rural livelihoods.

Since the early 20th century, U.S.-backed efforts to prohibit poppy cultivation have either failed or left thousands of farmers jobless, exacerbating poverty.

Despite billions spent on counter-narcotics, poppy farming endures, with groups like the Mujahideen, the Taliban, and criminal syndicates leveraging it for financial and military gains.

In the 1990s, Afghanistan’s opium production peaked, becoming the caretaker government’s primary revenue source. After the Taliban’s return in 2021, Afghanistan’s economy plummeted, and opium became an economic lifeline for thousands of families.

However, in 2022, the caretaker government imposed a new ban on poppy cultivation and shut down major smuggling hubs like the Abdul Wadood market in Farah.

In response, local resistance has intensified. Bloody clashes between farmers and government forces have erupted in provinces like Nangarhar and Badakhshan.

While large landowners with existing reserves have managed to survive, impoverished farmers—with no viable alternatives—face destruction.

Substitute crops like pomegranates, pistachios, almonds, or cotton require capital and resources that are often unavailable.

The international community has repeatedly promised aid, but in practice, Afghanistan farmers have been abandoned.