Following a nationwide ban on poppy cultivation in Afghanistan, farmers in Helmand and Kandahar provinces have turned to growing basil as an alternative crop.
Local officials in these provinces say basil has been planted on more than 2,000 hectares of land this year, and that 3,000 tons will be harvested.
In Kandahar over 1,000 hectares has been used for basil.
“The cultivation of basil in Kandahar has increased this year. Most of the farmers have started growing basil. The reason is abundant water and good rains,” said Muhammad Hanif Haqmal, the spokesman of the Department of Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock in Kandahar.
Basil cultivation has also increased in Helmand province. According to local officials, more than 1,400 acres of land has been used for basil, from which nearly 2,000 tons will be harvested.
Farmers, however, complain about the declining prices of basil. They say basil prices have decreased by 30 percent this year.
According to officials, last year the price of one kilogram of basil at markets was 500 afghanis, but this year one kilogram of basil sells for 280 afghanis to 300 afghanis.
