Afghanistan, Sept. 14 -- The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), with support from Italy, is promoting rose and saffron cultivation and processing in Afghanistan as alternative sources of income for farmers affected by the decline in opium poppy cultivation.
UNODC said Monday that the programme is being implemented in areas of Nangarhar and Herat provinces affected by poppy cultivation, with the aim of helping farming families develop alternative livelihoods and reduce their dependence on illicit crops.
In addition to supporting rose and saffron production and processing, the programme provides training in wool spinning, silk weaving and vegetable processing, according to UNODC. The activities are intended to expand income o...