Sunday October 2, 2016
Kabul (BNA) Encouraging Saffron cultivation leads to the economic growth of famers and will bring stability and security in to the country.
BNA analyst of economic affairs commenting on the issue writes one of the major sources that funds terrorism is poppy cultivation and the money comes from narcotic drugs trafficking.
For this reason most of the political leaders of the country in their statements touching on the issue have said that the outcomes of narcotic drugs mostly go to the packets of terrorists and the portion that used by farmers is very little. In addition, most of economic and political experts talking about the issue have said that corruption and poppy cultivation are the two enemies that alongside terrorism play a great role in insecurity of our country. There is not only terrorism behind poppy cultivation but at same time, the hands of regional and beyond regional mafia are also gravely involved. In any case, since a long time the experts of agriculture field and the people who consider that the economy of Afghanistan deeply related to the growth of agriculture sector claim that Afghanistan is an agricultural country and paying attention on this sector in reality is paying attention in to the growth of overall economy of the country.
Especially, the economic growth of families in rural area closely linked to growth of agriculture sector there. The ministry of agriculture and irrigation from the very beginning has paid serious attention to an alternative to poppy cultivation. Until, the ministry experimented saffron cultivation and in short period introduce this precious plant to many provinces of the country. The ministry of agriculture and irrigation in its 5-year plan will disseminate saffron cultivation in to 34 provinces of the country and purchase the products in higher prices than international markets. This clearly demonstrates that the ministry of agriculture and irrigation precisely planning seeking to boast saffron and soybean growth and industries in the country. In this way wants to replace these to useful plants poppy cultivation. Reaching this goal will take time but with realization of this program, first the areas where poppy and other kinds of narcotic plants restricted and in the second step, provides the ground for complete elimination of poppy and other narcotic drugs.
