UN
UN Special Representative introduces Cannabis Survey
31 March 2010 - At the release of the first “Afghanistan Cannabis Survey” by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Afghanistan Staffan de Mistura, pledged UN assistance to Afghanistan Government strategies to counteract illegal drugs.
The top UN official in Afghanistan joined the Afghan Deputy Minister of Counter Narcotics Mohammad Ibrahim Azhar and the UNODC Country Representative Jean-Luc Lemahieu in launching the report today at the Afghanistan Government Media and Information Centre in Kabul.
The “Afghanistan Cannabis Survey” highlights that the world’s biggest producer of opium is also the world largest producer of cannabis resin. Between 1,500 and 3,500 tons of cannabis resin could be produced in Afghanistan this year, UNODC reported.
“Progress has been made in countering narcotics in Afghanistan,” Mr de Mistura said.
“The United Nations, through the UNODC, is trying to help the government of Afghanistan identify and solve the problems. This report shows that if we want to address the issue, we will need to increase the capacity of all actors, as well as offer alternative income to the farmers. This report helps us by clarifying where we are and what direction the Afghan Government wants to go,” he added.
The UNODC survey indicates that cannabis is cultivated in more provinces than opium. In 17 out of 34 provinces, large-scale cultivation is undertaken for commercial purposes.
The survey also shows that cannabis cultivation, like opium, is concentrated in the south of the country, in regions of instability. Two thirds of cannabis farmers also grew opium in 2009.
Drugs can be a source of corruption, Mr de Mistura noted: “When I meet with Afghans, they always mention two issues they are faced with: One is security, the other is corruption. The UN is here to assist the Government so that corruption is also tackled with the proper methods. It is in the interest of the international community as well as the Afghans. If corruption is not tackled, there is less incentive to give the resources so much needed for development.”
