Opium Jihad

With Afghanistan now responsible for more than 90 per cent of the world’s opium production, there is massive international pressure for repressive policies. But quick-fix solutions like opium bans and eradication don’t work, write Martin Jelsma and Tom Kramer, who report back from Afghanistan on the rising anger of poor farmers on the front line.

Afghan president Hamid Karzai has announced a ‘jihad against opium’, and has implemented repressive polices, including the eradication of opium fields. This has caused great anger among farmers.

No other option

‘The main reason farmers grow opium is the bad economic situation,’ says Ibrahim. Badakhshan has a high population density, and most farmers own insufficient land to meet their needs. ‘There are also not enough jobs,’ he continues, ‘and many families have to send members to other provinces or Pakistan and Iran to get enough income.’

Ibrahim brings us to Argu district to talk with opium farmers. ‘Our main problems are lack of water and the drought,’ says an old farmer with a long grey beard and a white turban. ‘My land depends on rain, and does not produce enough to feed my family,’ explains another farmer. ‘Now we solve our food shortage with growing opium.’

The eldest farmer in the group agrees: ‘Destroying our opium fields leaves us with no other options. Instead we want the government to come and talk with us how to solve the problem. Now all they do is destroy our harvest.’

We meet with provincial governor Munshi Abdul Majid, seated behind his large desk flanked by huge baskets of plastic flowers. President Karzai has made governors responsible for reducing opium cultivation in their provinces. ‘This year I will bring down opium production here by 40 per cent,’ says Munshi.

In reality, the power of local governors is limited, and they often have to negotiate eradication, in order to ‘spread the pain’ equally over different districts and tribes. Corruption can also play a role, with farmers complaining that some local authorities are themselves involved in the opium trade.

‘I feel pity for the people,’ says the governor. ‘I put tremendous pressure on them to stop poppy cultivation, but I come with empty hands.’ The governor faces a difficult dilemma. If his actions are too harsh, it may upset the delicate power balance in the province. But if he does not do enough the central government will send the US-trained Afghan Eradication Force (AEF) to his province. Last year this immediately resulted in conflict and several deaths, which he now wants to prevent at all costs.

TNI