INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
Marjah district of Helmand province was once known as a major poppy growing area in the country but today, no poppies are in sight and
instead, farmers say they are struggling to make a living.These farmers have appealed to the Islamic Emirate to work with them to find
alternate crops to plant.One of the affected farmers is Mohammad Esa, who has switched from poppies to cotton and basil but he says he is
not happy with the results.Esa is not alone in this, as many farmers in the district say crops they have switched to are not bringing in
enough money to cover living costs.However, local officials say they have provided assistance to these farmers but that they hope to provide
additional help in the near future.Farmers in the district have tried to switch to wheat, corn, basil and cotton.Helmand province has
extremely fertile soil and farmers believe that with the right help from government, and with the provision of water, conditions would be
perfect for wheat farming.In April 2022, the Islamic Emirate&s supreme leader Hibatullah Akhundzada imposed a comprehensive ban on opium
cultivation, production, processing and trade.The IEA has since said that poppy farming has been entirely eradicated in the country.The post
Farmers struggle to make a living in former key poppy farming district first appeared on Ariana News.
