The success of counter narcotics policy in Afghanistan continues to be measured by the numbers. The annual hectares of poppy cultivated and especially the proportion of the total crop eradicated are then attributed to the commitment of the provincial and local authorities, often without taking into consideration strategies and efforts made by the poppy growing households themselves. Consequently, it is ignored how households replace the multifunctional role opium poppy plays in their rural livelihood strategies, and whether the shift in cropping patterns is part of a wider process of diversification of both crops and income, or simply a temporary response to political pressures.

This new report by David Mansfield sheds light on the qualitative nature of changes in cropping patterns in nine different provinces (Helmland, Nangarhar, Laghman, Baghlan, Balkh, Kandahar, Badakshan, Farah, Ghor), based on 481 in- depth interviews with a cross- section of households. The report analyses and compares different household strategies and the socio- economic, political and environmental circumstances that conditioned the options of livelihood with/without opium poppy, such as alternative income possibilities (on- and non- farm income), available infrastructure (markets, transportation facilities), available free family labour, security etc.

The report highlights that patterns of change in rural livelihoods are locally very different and not uniform across any given province. By giving voice to the Afghan rural population itself, the report provides valuable insights into Afghanistan rural livelihood options from a perspective that is often ignored by both policy makers and the media.

• Beyond the Metrics: Understanding the Nature of Change in the Rural Livelihoods of Opium Poppy Growing Households in the 2006/2007 Growing Season.
  June 2007, By David Mansfield
  Final-Drivers-0607.pdf, 0.50 MB (english)