Marjah district of Helmand province was once known as a major poppy growing area in the country but today, no poppies are in sight and instead, farmers say they are struggling to make a living.
These farmers have appealed to the Islamic Emirate to work with them to find alternate crops to plant.
One of the affected farmers is Mohammad Esa, who has switched from poppies to cotton and basil but he says he is not happy with the results.
Esa is not alone in this, as many farmers in the district say crops they have switched to are not bringing in enough money to cover living costs.
However, local officials say they have provided assistance to these farmers but that they hope to provide additional help in the near future.
Farmers in the district have tried to switch to wheat, corn, basil and cotton.
Helmand province has extremely fertile soil and farmers believe that with the right help from government, and with the provision of water, conditions would be perfect for wheat farming.
In April 2022, the Islamic Emirate’s supreme leader Hibatullah Akhundzada imposed a comprehensive ban on opium cultivation, production, processing and trade.
The IEA has since said that poppy farming has been entirely eradicated in the country.
