Tweet
Afghan farmers are switching crops from poppy to Saffron. According to Afghan government Statistics exports of pricey Saffron jumped by 14 percent in 2012. Hassib a farmer in Herat province said: “The reason for switching was that poppy is a lot harder to grow; besides, I make more money from Saffron. I used to sell Saffron for $1,400 per kilogram, now I sell it for $2,000 per kilogram.”
Increase in production and export of Saffron to other countries are good news for Afghanistan. It is both a good source of income for farmers and it paves the way for trade with neighboring countries. Afghan government in coordination with other international organizations has been promoting Saffron as an alternative crop to opium poppy. Saffron is suited to the Afghan climate and has been adopted in Herat and Ghazni provinces. The ministry of agriculture, irrigation and livestock plans to introduce and promote Saffron to other provinces.
What other methods of poppy eradication and alternative crops could the Afghan government introduce to farmers?
Respectfully,
Hashmat
DET, United States Central Command
www.Centcom.mil
Increase in production and export of Saffron to other countries are good news for Afghanistan. It is both a good source of income for farmers and it paves the way for trade with neighboring countries. Afghan government in coordination with other international organizations has been promoting Saffron as an alternative crop to opium poppy. Saffron is suited to the Afghan climate and has been adopted in Herat and Ghazni provinces. The ministry of agriculture, irrigation and livestock plans to introduce and promote Saffron to other provinces.
What other methods of poppy eradication and alternative crops could the Afghan government introduce to farmers?
Respectfully,
Hashmat
DET, United States Central Command
www.Centcom.mil