Wildfires in Spain burn ten times more land than last year
Data from the European Forest Fire Information System (EFFIS), part of the Copernicus European Environmental Monitoring Programme, shows that 411,315 ...
Afghan farmers are shifting away from opium cultivation as the interim government ramps up efforts to eliminate the drug trade, offering alternative crops and local support.
Noor Agha, a farmer in eastern Afghanistan, now works among apple and cherry trees with a shovel in hand and a smile on his face. After over a decade in agriculture, he says his community is embracing a major shift.
"In the past, people grew opium, which was a disaster and didn't benefit anyone," Agha said. "We now cultivate seedlings, wheat, and potatoes." He added that fruit trees, especially apples, have become a reliable source of income.
His views echo a broader national trend as Afghanistan’s interim government intensifies its campaign against drug cultivation. Farmers are being encouraged to grow legal crops with the help of alternative seeds and resources.
"When we cultivated opium, it harmed everyone, our families, relatives, and the country. People became addicted, and the recovery process was difficult," Agha said.
Zargo Stanikzai, a 44-year-old farmer in Wardak province, has replaced opium with orchards of almonds, peaches, apples, and cherries on his 10-acre plot. He now employs five people and earns around 1 million Afghanis (roughly 14,224 U.S. dollars) annually.
"Our life is going well. Gardening is better than other crops," he said. "It would be great if people focused on agriculture. Gardening is more profitable than opium, and the work is clean and problem-free."
Still, Stanikzai warned that ongoing droughts could threaten this progress and urged international donors not to abandon Afghan farmers in their climate-related challenges.
The interim government has supported the anti-drug effort with public awareness campaigns and local enforcement. "It is our duty to educate others," said Mawlawi Habibullah Mujahid, Wardak’s director of information and culture. "We need to convince people that planting opium is wrong."
Mujahid blamed the past U.S. military presence for worsening drug production and addiction. He said that local anti-narcotics commissions are now actively inspecting and destroying opium fields. However, he noted that no international organisation has yet provided direct assistance to these efforts in Wardak.
In September 2024, the Afghan government formed a 27-member High Commission to coordinate the fight against drugs, treat addiction, and prevent trafficking. Authorities continue to call for stronger international support to sustain this shift.
A powerful eruption at Japan’s Shinmoedake volcano sent an ash plume more than 3,000 metres high on Sunday morning, prompting safety warnings from authorities.
According to the German Research Centre for Geosciences (GFZ), a magnitude 5.7 earthquake struck the Oaxaca region of Mexico on Saturday.
The UK is gearing up for Exercise Pegasus 2025, its largest pandemic readiness test since COVID-19. Running from September to November, this full-scale simulation will challenge the country's response to a fast-moving respiratory outbreak.
Kuwait says oil prices will likely stay below $72 per barrel as OPEC monitors global supply trends and U.S. policy signals. The remarks come during market uncertainty fueled by new U.S. tariffs on India and possible sanctions on Russia.
A major fire has broken out at Hamburg’s city port, leaving several people injured.
Data from the European Forest Fire Information System (EFFIS), part of the Copernicus European Environmental Monitoring Programme, shows that 411,315 hectares of forest and rural land have burned in Spain so far this year — roughly ten times more than the 42,615 hectares affected in 2024.
Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro has ordered a reinforcement of the “Relámpago del Catatumbo” operation, extending it to Tachira state under Peace Zone One.
North Korea has criticised the joint military exercises between the US and South Korea, with state media reporting that the drills demonstrate Washington’s intent to “occupy” the Korean peninsula and target its regional adversaries.
On Monday, Russia claimed its forces had carried out extensive strikes on Ukrainian drone bases and other military targets over the past 24 hours, while Ukraine reported having destroyed a significant amount of Russian military hardware.
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