The Washington Post reported that climate change is a serious challenge to eradicating drug production in Afghanistan.

According to the report, climate change has made it difficult for other agricultural crops to grow easily in Afghanistan, reducing farmers' willingness to adopt alternative crops.

The report notes that after three years of experimenting with other crops, Afghan farmers are considering returning to poppy cultivation.

Shams-ur-Rahman Ahmadzai, an economic analyst, told TOLOnews, “The urgent need for the Afghan people in agriculture is improved seeds and some chemical fertilizers. If provided to our farmers in a timely fashion, we can significantly strengthen our agriculture sector.”

Meanwhile, the Counter Narcotics Department of the Ministry of Interior has called on the international community to assist Afghan farmers in securing alternative crops.

Haseebullah Ahmadi, head of the Counter Narcotics Office at the Ministry of Interior, said, “Our request to charitable organizations and the international community is to help our farmers in providing alternative livelihoods.”

The United States Institute of Peace also reported that the ban on poppy cultivation in Afghanistan has increased poverty, and no efforts have been made to ensure alternative crops.

Farmers in various provinces also urge the interim government and international organizations to assist in providing alternative crops.

Khan Mohammad, a farmer, told TOLOnews, “We ask the government to help us by providing fertilizers and materials to advance our agriculture.”

Najibullah, another Afghan farmer, said, “The promised assistance for alternative crops did not reach us. What we are cultivating now is from our own pockets.”

Concerns about the lack of alternative crops for Afghan farmers arise as a meeting on Afghanistan is scheduled to take place in Doha in less than ten days, with the fight against terrorism and drug trafficking on the agenda.