Phasing Out Opium: Developing a Sustainable Future in Afghanistan

Phasing Out Opium: Developing a Sustainable Future in Afghanistan Prepared by: The Afghanistan Alternative Development Committee Chris Paventy, Lauren Mellinger, Greg Nelson, Koh Nakamura, PavitraRamaswamy & Luciana Amodeo

Purpose • Working at the request of the new administration of USAID to propose ways in which to address the growing concern in regards to opium production • Harmful to local populations • Hinders ongoing reconstructions efforts • Focus is on Helmand Province

Helmand Province Demographics • Top: 61,829 km sq. • 61% desert/rock • 29% mountain ranges • 9% total Afghanistan • Total Pop. 1,441,769 • 92% Pashtun • Helmand River • Largest River running through Helmand

Geographic Security Risks • Northern Mountain Range • Helmand River/Jungle • Afghanistan/Pakistan Border

Current/Projected Military Presence • Current: • 68,000 U.S. • 38,000 ISAF • 106,000 Total • Projected: • 30,000 U.S. • 6,000 ISAF • 145,000 Total

ISAF Military Operations • March 2007 – Operation Achilles • Clear Northern region of Taliban forces to begin reconstruction efforts in the area • April and May 2009 – Operations Zafar I & II • Initial strike in preparation for Op. Panther’s Claw • June 2009 – Operation Panther’s Claw • Secure River crossing in central Helmand area to establish a semi-permanent ISAF presence • July 2009 – Operation Strike of the Sword • Continue to drive Afghan forces South and secure occupied regions

Present Security Concerns • Maintaining security of currently occupied territories and preventing the reemergence of Taliban forces • The development of self-sustaining Afghani military and police forces, who would represent the main security presence after the withdrawal of foreign aid • Developing safe and permanent transport lines for both supplies and troop mobility • Improving diplomatic relations with the Pakistan government to tighten security along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border

Agriculture and Alternative Development Sector Profile • Due to the declining price of opium on the world market, Afghan farmers are looking for new opportunities to produce and market alternative crops. • The benefit of encouraging licit commercial agriculture: • Increasing the income of rural populations • Fosters recognition among the local farmers that opium production/trade has destabliizing effect.

Agriculture and Alternative Development Sector Profile • Several alternative crops have excellent reputation, including: • Almonds, pistachios • Pomegranates, grapes • Expanding the market for these crops is the best way to promote licit agriculture in Helmand Province, and thus reduce opium production/trade.

Agriculture and Alternative Development Sector Profile • Helmand Province already has the capacity for expanding agriculture and developing alternative crops: • Province is fertile with deep soils – potential for agriculture, livestock, fishery, forestry, and horticulture. • Infrastructure already in place for natural water sources and irrigation. • Suitable climate for long season cultivation of crops, including wheat, maize, beans, barley, and orchards.

Agriculture and Alternative Development Sector Profile • Prior success in alternative crop development has already dramatically decreased the number of poppy-growing provinces in Afghanistan to 20 in 2009. • Continuing this successful program requires expanding the USAID program to increase the number of farmers, as well as agribusiness and government service providers within Helmand province.

Total Poppy Production in Afghanistan (hectares) Source: UNODC World Drug Report 2009 *Figures for 2009 are based on UNODC estimates of 8% reduction from 2008.

Price of Raw Poppy in Helmand (USD/Kg.) Source: UNODC Afghanistan Opium Survey 2008 *No recorded data between October 2003 and February 2004 Source: UNODC Opium Price Monitoring, June 2009

Alternative Crop Prices Source: indexmundi.com Although some of the alternative crop prices (wheat, maize, barley) seem to be incomparable to that of poppy, it is important to note that they tend to have other benefits such as they take much less time and energy to cultivate.

Alternative Development Program • Two goals: • Increase jobs for and sales by afghan farmers, herders, and businesses. • Increase their confidence in the government. • Core Actions of USAID: • Provide the materials, technology, and expertise necessary to produce, process, and market high-value crops. • Other Actions: • Improve watershed management and irrigation and infrastructure. • Roads between farms and marketplaces and actual marketplace infrastructure. • Facilitate access to credit and seek to develop new markets. • Funding • Increased until 2006; Since budget has declined by 20%.

Recommendations • Increase annual budget for program by 30% within a year to coincide with the military surge just issued by President Obama. • Give greater importance to developing new foreign markets. • Focus on regional rather than global markets. • However, push for legislation to be passed about Reconstruction Opportunity Zones (ROZs)

USAID • USAID in Helmand closely cooperate with local and international partners for the implementation of their projects • USAID has personnel in 19 Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRTs) across Afghanistan • The field program officers monitor all U.S. reconstruction and development efforts

International Partners • U.K. Department for International Development (DFID) • Alternative Agriculture Livelihood • International Centre for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA) • Future Harvest Consortium to Rebuild Agriculture in Afghanistan (FHCRAA) • Under the leadership of the ICARDA, this organization consists of 34 organizations

Afghani government • Ministry of Rural Rehabilitation and Development (MRRD) launched the National Area Based Development Program (NABDP) • Under this program, projects have been requested by local communities through the District Development Assembly (DDAs) • The central government-led Afghan Eradication Force (AEF) • The Helmand’s Governor-Led Eradication (GLE)

Recommendation Joint Task Force • Creation of a joint task force under the strong leadership of Afghanistan government Afghani government Afghani government UNDP Project implementing partners USAID AEF GLE PRTs DFID MRRD NABPP ・Supporting, such as monetary aids ICARDA FHCRAA DDAs DDAs ・cooperation

USAID-AFGHAN GOVT PARTNERSHIP • Poppy cultivation undermines good governance & funds insurgent activities in the Helmand province • Helmand with an area roughly the size of Switzerland continues to produce more narcotics than any other country.

USAID-AFGHAN GOVT PARTNERSHIPRECOMMENDATIONS SHORT TERM GOALS

USAID-AFGHAN GOVT PARTNERSHIPRECOMMENDATIONS MID TERM GOALS

USAID-AFGHAN GOVT PARTNERSHIPRECOMMENDATIONS LONG TERM GOALS

Engagement Approach • The USAID mission in aiding Afghan farmers from the opium trade to alternative crop requires appropriate interaction and engagement with local communities. • This engagement necessitates a deep cultural and social understanding of local communities and how they function. • In keeping with this idea, Afghanistan Alternative Development Committee advocates the teaching of Pashtunwali to its workers sent to the Helmand province and a focus of the mission around Pashtunwaliprinciples

Pashtunwali • The structure that rules the tribes is called Pashtunwali, “an unwritten code controlling, guiding and balancing, to large extent, the form, character and discipline of the Pathan way of life.” Pashtunwali, Afghanan dot Net • Pashtunwali is comprised of seven primary components and are meant to give meaning to the interactions the Pashtuns have with each other and the outside world. They are designed to give guidance to ethical and moral decisions a Pashtun will face during their lives.

Recommendations • Before USAID workers set foot in Afghanistan they should be educated in Afghan social and cultural customs by natives. This education should include serious attention and focus on the Pashtun tribal society and their practice and incorporation of Pashtunwali in customary law. • Once educated in such customs, USAID workers should be trained in tools of persuasion that incorporate values of Pashtunwali. • Persuade Pashtuns of the benefits of alternative cropping by appealing to their sense of Pashtunwali.

Public Diplomacy Campaign • Educate people about the dangers of being involved with the drugs trade as well the legal implications • Build awareness through local media networks • Send local teams to build awareness campaigns in schools, villages, hospitals • All public awareness campaigns to be carried out in Pashto

Phasing Out Opium: Developing a Sustainable Future in Afghanistan