WASHINGTON: Opium poppy cultivation shot up a whopping 61 per cent in Afghanistan this year in a setback for US and Nato efforts to clamp down on the country's illegal drug industry, according to new figures released by the White House.
The anticipated record crop is seen as another boost for the resurgent Taliban as insurgents are often accused by US officials of using proceeds from drug sales to buy weapons and attract new recruits.
The annual US government estimate for Afghan opium poppy cultivation shows that approximately 172,600 hectares (426,503 acres) of poppy were cultivated throughout the country this year, an increase of 61 per cent over 2005, the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy said.
Two southern Afghan provinces -- Helmand and Oruzgan where the Taliban has been the most active -- are responsible for the bulk of the increase. Poppy planting there was up 132 per cent from last year, compared to an 18 per cent increase in the remaining 31 provinces.
The White House did not hide its concern.
“While 2006 was a record year for poppy eradication, the news that net cultivation has increased is disappointing,” John Walters, director of the drug control office, said in a statement.
He acknowledged the booming industry posed a threat to Afghanistan's internal stability, adding that “increased emphasis and continued reductions are necessary” to cut the drug trade.
Assistant Secretary of State Anne Patterson shared his concern, arguing that “stopping the cultivation and traffic of opium is paramount in establishing rule of law in Afghanistan.” She vowed to continue working with the government of Afghanistan and Nato allies to bring the opium industry under control.
The estimate is based on detailed satellite imagery of Afghanistan produced by the US government. The detected cultivation levels mean that Afghanistan will be able to produce next year 5,644 metric tons of opium, up 26 per cent from an estimate issued last year.—AFP
