Afghan farmers turned to rose cultivation after the poppy ban

After the government banned poppy cultivation in Afghanistan, farmers in search turned to rose cultivation. The number of rose gardens in 6 districts of Nangarhar province on the border with Pakistan is increasing day by day. Farmers sell the rose to a local company for 70 afghani (about $1) per kilogram. Each year, 100 thousand afghani (approximately 1250 dollars) are earned from each decare of rose fields. Speaking to AA correspondent, the farmers stated that they had planted poppy for years before and decided to plant roses after the Taliban banned it. Abdul Malik Dere-i Nuri, a farmer in Nangarhar's Dere-i Nuri village, said that he has been planting poppy on his 2-decare land for more than 10 years and has been earning good income. Stating that he started looking for alternative products after the poppy ban, Dere-i Nuri explained that he decided to plant roses, which are more profitable than other plants. Dere-i Nuri said, "Although roses do not earn as much as poppy, their ...