Afghanistan: Opium production rising under Taliban regime

Kabul [Afghanistan], November 17 : The opium cultivation and production has increased in drought-affected southern Afghanistan, Kandahar and Helmand after the Taliban took control of Kabul in August.
Under the Taliban regime, the people have no work and the country is drowned in debt. Lack of work alternatives and drought in the region have left farming the only option for the people, reported TOLOnews.
Farmers in the Kandahar and Helmand region of the country said they are happy about their opium products in the fall season of this year, reported Afghanistan's TOLOnews.
"There is no work, all the families are in debt and everyone's hope is opium," a farmer in Kandahar told TOLOnews.
The Islamic emirates, with the help of international organizations and communities, is on the look for alternatives to opium farming for the poppy growers.
"The Islamic Emirate through using government facilities, and in coordination with various international organizations and in cooperation with the international community, is trying to find alternative jobs for those who are cultivating opium," TOLOnews report said quoting Enamullah Samangani, Deputy spokesman of the Islamic Emirate.
Addressing the issue of Afghanistan's narcotics and its consequence on international relations, a university lecturer said, "The issue of narcotics is one of the world's biggest problems, and our neighbouring countries, especially Russia, will be greatly affected by Afghanistan's narcotics and this will affect the relations of the Islamic Emirate with the world," reported the Afghanistan news broadcaster.
More than 90 per cent of the world's narcotics are manufactured and produced in Afghanistan. The previous Afghan government has reportedly spent millions to resolve the issue but it still persists, reported TOLOnews.