Oral question asked in the House of Commons, by Tony Baldry (Conservative). It was answered on Wednesday, 12 October 2005 on behalf of the Department for International Development.

Afghanistan

Question: I am grateful for that answer, but fatwas against farmers in Afghanistan do not seem to be making much progress, largely because of the lack of alternative livelihoods. Is it not time to consider the possibility of licensing some opium production in Afghanistan? There is a shortage of morphine and codeine, particularly in the developing world, and the benefits to Afghan farmers and the Afghan treasury of some licensed, tightly regulated opium production could be considerable.

Answer: I have seen the recently published report, which made precisely that suggestion. As I am sure the hon. Gentleman is aware, the Ministry of Counter Narcotics—this is the Afghan Government's response—said that while it welcomed the study, because of poor security and the risk of diversion, now is not the right time for licit poppy cultivation. I have to say that I share that view, but I can tell the hon. Gentleman that we are funding an applied research programme to look at ways of earning an alternative living, which is what farmers require if they are not to plant poppy any more.

Secondary information

Type: Oral question
Reference: 437 c278
Session: 2005-06
Oral question type: 1st Supplementary
Chamber / Committee: House of Commons chamber
Subjects: Crops Licensing Drugs Afghanistan Opium Diversification Morphine Production
Link: View this Oral question on www.publications.parliament.uk