A Microgrant Supported Poppy Cultivation Renouncement Program for Afghanistan
Abstract
In 2007, Afghan grown poppies provided the raw material used to produce 93% of the world's opium. The Taliban and other insurgent elements receive up to $500 million of revenue from drug related activities. The current counternarcotics strategy emphasizes the execution of eradication programs coupled with initiatives designed to help farmers develop alternative livelihoods. Unfortunately, the current strategy does not provide any time after eradication effects for farmers to allow alternative livelihood initiatives to develop nor does the strategy address any schemes to deter key traffickers from disrupting counternarcotics efforts. This paper addresses the time problem of the current eradication/alternative livelihood counternarcotics strategy and proposes the creation of a microgrant supported poppy cultivation renouncement program. Finally, the paper suggests that as long as appropriate accountability measures exist, the hiring of key traffickers to help administer and monitor the program will turn a disruptive element into a potential influence of support for Afghan government and coalition efforts.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Feb 17, 2009
- Accession Number
- ADA494726
Entities
People
- Ashton L. Hayes
Organizations
- United States Army War College