Our evidence shows that there is a direct link between poppy cultivation and armed insurgent movements in Afghanistan.

There is a lot of development assistance by countries, including the US, provided to Afghanistan. These include rule of law, food, alternative livelihood and social programmes, which have been designed and implemented with efforts to protect local culture and take account of local conditions.

The rule of law programmes includes destruction of illicit crops, which are complemented by alternative livelihood programmes called Foodzone. By considering lessons learned in implementing the Foodzone programme in Helmand, we have designed new programmes in other provinces. As a result poppy cultivation has fallen. To help with the sustainability of this successful programme, we are seeking to incorporate the programme into our national budget.

We have shown that we can be free from the slavery of illicit drugs.