Jakarta –
Price opium has tripled in Afghanistan since the Taliban took control of the country. The militant group itself has controlled the Afghan capital since August 15, 2021.
Reported from Euronews, Friday (1/10/2021), the price of opium rose because the Taliban said Afghanistan would no longer produce narcotics. This causes the price to soar in the market, far from the normal price.
Southern Afghanistan market trader Amanullah (not his real name) and his partner Mohammad Masoom admit they can get a good price for the latest batch of opium.
They claim the opium sold is pure. They can earn 17,500 Pakistani rupees (PKR) per kilo, or around 90 euros which is equivalent to Rp 1.5 million (exchange rate of Rp 16,563).
A few kilometers away, Zekria (not his real name) justifies the recent spike in opium prices. Farmers are now selling their opium for more than 25,000 PKR per kilo or around 126 euros equivalent to Rp. 2.09 million, which is claimed to be of better quality than Mohammad’s. The price increased compared to before August which was 7,500 PKR per kilo.
Opium is then processed domestically or in neighboring countries such as Pakistan, Iran and the European market. A number of factors that affect the price of opium, namely weather, security, political turmoil, to closing borders.
In 2000, the first Taliban regime banned the cultivation of opium because it was considered haram (contrary to Islamic law). Even so, year after year opium production in Afghanistan remains high.
In 2020, the country is the world’s top opium cultivator, producing 6,300 tonnes on 224,000 hectares (Ha). The production generates an estimated $2 billion in revenue in one of the world’s poorest countries.
Watch Video: Economic Conditions Continue to Get Worse, Millions of Afghans Threatened
(aid/eds)
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