Written question asked by Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer (Liberal Democrat), in the House of Lords. It was answered by Lord Howell of Guildford (Conservative) on Wednesday, 6 April 2011.

Opiate Poppy Production

Question: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their assessment of the coalition's efforts to eradicate the poppy crop in Afghanistan.

Answer: Opium poppy eradication policy is owned and conducted by the Afghan Government, as set out in its National Drug Control Strategy. This strategy makes clear that it is for the governors of the individual poppy-growing provinces to carry out eradication. UK and coalition forces do not directly eradicate opium poppy themselves, but assist the Afghan Government by providing logistical support (ensuring the eradication teams can carry out their tasks) and targeting support (ensuring that eradication is only aimed at those farmers who have access to genuine alternatives to poppy). In 2010 the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime's Afghan Opium Survey reported that 2,316 hectares of opium poppy were eradicated across Afghanistan.

Secondary information