The problem with heroin production in Afghanistan has become a problem for surrounding countries and countries in other parts of the world because of drug trafficking. However, there is a Catch 22 behind the production of poppies in the war-torn country. Although poppy production has been urged to come to a halt, Poppies are the number one crop in Afghanistan. Revenue from opium production has made up between 40 and 60 percent of Afghanistan's GDP. If eradication of all poppy crops were to occur in Afghanistan, the economy would be severely crippled. Though farmers are urged to grow other legal crops, farmers continue to make more money from poppies than any other crop. The underlying concept of the idea of this Catch 22 is that if opium production was cut into severely, although the drug trade would be reduced and financial support to warlords would be extremely reduced, the eradication of the crop would affect the citizens of Afghanistan severly.
I feel that this is a very sticky situation. When I first read about the drug trafficking problem, I immediately thought of it as something that should be dealt with and eliminated. Now that I read more into the situation, i realize that not only does the production of poppies fuel drug trafficking, but it is also a way that many of the citizens of Afghanistan prosper. This made me realize that the elimination of poppy and opium production will not happen as quickly as some would like for it to. The entire economy has to shift in order for a change to be made as far as the popularity of crops. As the article stated, financial incentives and technical assistance must be given to farmers to switch their crops to legal crops.
http://www.worldnews.about.com/od/afghanistan/ig/The-Future-of-Afghanistan/Afghanistan-s-Opium-Farmers.htm
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