The issue of reviving agriculture in the war-torn country is vital to the approval of the NATO mission by Afghan people. While over 60% of Afghans support NATO’s efforts, the failure to improve the daily lives of the Afghan people because of insufficient improvements in the economic situation may well undermine the entire mission. Faltering support for NATO by the Afghan people would imperil security at the regional level.
For NATO, the most pressing question is what to do with the poppy fields in Afghanistan. When the problem was discussed at a NATO-Russia Council meeting in Brussels recently, the Russian side suggested eradicating all poppy fields. This rather radical proposal however brings to mind a sad historic precedent in terms of prohibition: the Soviet Union’s anti-alcohol campaign in 1985. This led mostly to economic losses and little else: many of the Soviet Union’s vineyards were destroyed, while smuggling increased, as did the incidence of alcohol poisoning among the population. Unfortunately, the unreasonable Russian proposal to eradicate all poppy fields does little to improve Russia’s image. Instead of Russia being taken more seriously as a partner in the joint effort, such suggestions merely lead to more misunderstandings between NATO and Russia.
NATO officials of course refused the Russian proposal. This was absolutely the right reaction. The poppy is the most high-yield plant that grows in drought conditions. Any massive campaign to eradicate the poppy fields simply will not be effective. Neither will it achieve anything in the fight against drug dealing.
The USSR attempted to ban the poppy fields in 1986. In hindsight, all this led to was the evil spreading. The amount of narcotics produced and consumed continues to rise today, as does the death toll from drug consumption. Moreover, the endeavor damaged the economy, much as Gorbachev’s anti-alcohol campaign did. Even today, the Soviet decision of 1986 is much criticized in the Ukraine. That part of the Soviet Union suffered heavily as a result of the effort to eradicate the poppy fields, as it needed around 100 thousand tons poppies seeds per year as input into the economy: The poppy seed is highly valued by the pharmaceutical and food industry. It is also used for cosmetics or as fodder, and even in paints. The poppy seed contains a greater percentage of essential fatty acids than any other agricultural plant, including soya.
Over 50 countries in the world grow poppy. The leaders on the world poppy market are the Czech Republic and Turkey. Nobody accuses them of ill behavior. In economic terms, the eradication of poppies fields will only lead to an escalation of tensions in Afghanistan, increase protests against the authorities, and make more Afghans support the insurgency.
The question is whether it is in the interest of the international community to outlaw the poppy seed, given the potentially destabilizing effect this would have on the already fragile security situation. Alternative solutions to the problem should be explored. In an interview with the RIA News agency in Moscow, Israel’s ambassador to Russia Anna Azari stated that Israel had proposed cooperation on agricultural development to Kabul. But unfortunately Afghanistan does not have an official relationship with Israel. Nevertheless, the chief scientist at the Israeli Ministry of Immigrant Absorption Zeev Hanin pointed out that Afghan President Hamid Karzai had voiced great interest in cooperation. Mr. Karzai was particularly interested in the advanced agricultural technologies Israel had developed, such as 'drops irrigation' and land amelioration. Zeev Hanin stressed that Israeli authority would gladly assist the Afghan people in developing agriculture. The Israeli technologies have already been used in Central Asia with great success.
In order to solve this problem, NATO should to serve as a mediator in official negotiations between Afghan and Israeli authorities. Change in the field of agriculture would need to be gradual. New plants would need to be introduced and tested in the dry climatic conditions of Afghanistan, perhaps even including genetically modified plants. This would not only advance the production of foodstuffs, but also promote animal husbandry and the development of industry. Assistance could come from countries such as the United States, Canada, Brazil, Argentina, or China. They all have vast experience in working with genetically modified plants, including soya, corn, cotton, and the so-called 'golden' rice that will be introduced into the Indo-Pacific region in 2012.
Olga Kolesnichenko, freelance journalist
- 6
June 10, 2010
Bernhard Lucke, University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Platinum Contributor (503)
This article gives some hope that NATO might be a little bit wiser than the Soviets, although the recent escalation of force looks very much like repeating the Soviet mistakes. I would warn however of strong Israeli engagement.
Although Israel's technology could doubtless strongly benefit Afghanistan, it is a dangerous issue since many Islamists perceive the "small Satan" as the reason for the American ("big Satan") engagement in the region. But perhaps the benefits of cooperation meanwhile outnumber the risks regarding the inevitable suspicions about Zionist conspirations to take over the Muslim world. The west has probably lost already so much reputation in Afghanistan that the only chance to rescue the political situation are practical steps forward.