120 PER CENT INCREASE IN PRODUCTION OF RAW OPIUM IN AFGHANISTAN FOR 1999

Press Release
AFG/106
SOC/NAR/810

120 PER CENT INCREASE IN PRODUCTION OF RAW OPIUM IN AFGHANISTAN FOR 1999

ISLAMABAD, 10 September (United Nations Information Centre) – The Representative of the United Nations International Drug Control Programme (UNDCP) in Pakistan and Afghanistan, Bernard Frahi announced today at the weekly UNIC briefing that the total production of raw opium in Afghanistan has reached in 1999 the highest levels ever recorded anywhere. Referring to the production of an estimated 4,600 metric tons of raw opium as "an unfortunate record", Mr. Frahi said that it marked a nearly 120 per cent increase over production in Afghanistan in 1998. "We have reason to worry about further expansion if no action is taken", he added.

The UNDCP released these findings today following the completion of their annual Opium Poppy Survey, which was conducted by 90 surveyors nation-wide, thanks to the support of the Taliban authorities. The area under cultivation increased from 64,000 hectares in 1998 to 91,000 hectares in 1999 -- a 43 per cent increase of the area currently cultivated. The UNDCP and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) estimate that the total area of cultivable land stands at around 8 million hectares. "Opium poppy accounts for only 2.6 per cent at present", noted Mr. Frahi.

Opium poppy was grown for the first time in the provinces of Jawzjan and Kunduz, bringing the number of provinces where opium is grown to 18 out of 31. The number of districts where opium is cultivated jumped from 73 in 1998 to 104 in 1999. The UNDCP Representative outlined several reasons for this "tremendous increase", most particularly the weather of 1998 which had caused a poor harvest. "As a result", he said, "the farmers have been saddled with debts that they could repay only by growing more opium". Previous stocks had also been depleted, hence the perceived need to replenish them. Additionally, the price of opium at the time of the planting season -- around $60 a kilogram versus $37 in 1997 -- had been a strong incentive.

Despite the overall increase, the UNDCP has succeeded in reducing cultivation in the districts of Maiwand and Ghorak (Province of Helmand), two of the four pilot districts targeted by alternative development projects. With the cooperation of the community and the Taliban, cultivation there decreased 20 to 30 per cent. "This is evidence that the programme is going in the right direction", said Mr. Frahi. Even though 97 per cent of the land under poppy cultivation is in Taliban territory and a tax of 10 per cent is levied by them on all agricultural production (including opium poppy), the UNDCP representative insisted the Taliban had demonstrated good

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will through the destruction of 34 processing laboratories and 400 hectares of opium poppy.

With 4,600 metric tonnes, Afghanistan accounts this year for a production three times larger than the rest of the world put together. The second largest producer, Myanmar, is now a distant second, with 1,200 metric tonnes, while another 300 tonnes are the combined output of Laos, Thailand, Columbia and Pakistan.

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