Australian Wheat To Replace Opium In Afghanistan
AUSTRALIA will fund wheat trials in Afghanistan aimed at weaning struggling farmers off illegal opium poppy crops.
Authorities hope the $1.5 million project will also help the war-torn country feed itself.
NATO and allied forces — including Australian troops — are trying to stamp out Afghanistan’s lucrative trade in opium, largely controlled by extremist groups.
Afghanistan produces most of the world’s opium, the raw ingredient in heroin.
Dr Paul Fox, research program manager for crop improvement with the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research, hopes the project will find viable alternatives for farmers.
“We’re trying to find a stable basis to grow legal crops. We want to get the newest, the very best wheat varieties in farmers’ hands,” he said.
The Australian project over four years will fund field trials of wheat and maize to find disease-resistant strains, and rebuild seed distribution networks.
Wheat is the staple food of a traditional Afghan diet and is the country’s biggest crop, Dr Fox said.
Poppies are planted over a much smaller area but are higher in value.
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