KABUL – *Farmers in Afghanistan have received New genetic seeds for poppycultivation which can grow all year round hence giving a boost to poppycultivation in Afghanistan. *

* Farmers said that they were given modified poppy seeds two years agowhich now enables them to cultivate the plants year round*, TOLO News hasreported.

According to the farmers, in the past they were only able to cultivatepoppies for six months a year whereas now they are able to cultivate theplant the whole year – through all four seasons.

“After harvesting the plants from the farm, we prepare the land and plantnew seeds. It means now we have access to seeds that we cancultivate over four seasons instead of two seasons,” said Ahmad, a farmer.

The farmers said they earn more money now by growing poppies year round,and more money than they would make farming agricultural produce.

“If we cultivate other agricultural produce we won’t earn a lot dueto the lack of marketing. But when we cultivate poppies (for drugs), weearn a lot,” Abdul Basir, another farmer said.

Esmatullah, 13, said he is used to planting poppies for drugs and when hewas in Grade 2, his family encouraged him to start working on the farm.

“I become familiar with drug farms from when I was a child. I work everyday on the farms and earn money for my family’s expenses,” said Esmatullah.

Officials have meanwhile stated that more farmers are turning to poppies inthe central, southern and northern districts of Helmand province.