Opium . . . and Agriculture

Opium Makes a Comeback. 2015 say a 19 percent decrease in opium production in Afghanistan due (not to government eradication efforts) fungus and weevils. However, 2016 is projected to be a more successful year for the poppy growers. Read more in "Opium bounces back, enriching Taliban and Afghan officials", IRIN, March 4, 2016.

Poppy Production Examined. Catherine Putz dissects poppy growth in Afghanistan in "Is Poppy Production Really Down in Afghanistan?", The Diplomat, March 4, 2016.

Bamyan Agricultural Area Struggles. Making a living in Afghanistan in agriculture is problematic. The security issues, varying climate, and harsh sparse growing areas all contribute to 'hit or miss' seasons with growing crops. Learn how one valley in Bamyan province is coping with the assistance of the Conservation Organization for Afghanistan Mountains (COAM) in "Preserving a Pristine Landscape in Bamyan", United Nations Development Programme, August 2015.

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