Afghani Opium
According to the US Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) Afghanistan produced more than 70% of the worlds opium in 2000, and about 80% of the opiate products in Europe. In July 2000 the leader of Afghanistans former Taliban government, Mullah Omar, declared a nationwide ban on opium cultivation for one year. ... But with the demise of the Taliban, there are fears Afghanistan will quickly reclaim its status as the worlds largest producer of illicit opium. Opium has an illustrious career in the relatively new nation of Afghanistan, but with the crisis of September 11th looming over and the shadow of the War On Terrorism still remaining what has happened to the opium trade, and how has it affected the world market both past and present. To look at the current production levels one must look at the history of Afghani heroin production. ... Farmers were educated of the benefits of raising opium poppies, and the most fertile were often given incentives by the warlords. ... They picked up the Opium trade from their predecessors, and it continued to grow until in July 2000 the leader of the Taliban government, Mullah Omar, declared a nationwide ban on opium cultivation for one year. For an entire year the cultivation, of any form of opium was banned, and enforced throughout the 90% of Afghanistan the Taliban controlled. ... In that time Afghani farmers desperate for food, and income returned their old friend the poppy. ... The UNDCP provided estimates of the level of opium poppy cultivation per region by conducting a census of farmers on the ground.