Taliban's ban on poppy production ruins farmers

Asadullah was a prosperous poppy farmer in southern Afghanistan for 20 years until Taliban authorities abruptly began enforcing a long-standing ban on the crop.

From four acres in Helmand long the heartland of poppy production - the 65-year-old earned between 250 000 (about R63 000) to 500 000 afghani per season from the plant, which is used to produce opium and heroin.

Forced by the authorities to switch to other crops, he is now struggling to make ends meet.

"We are finished. We don't have anything to eat for dinner," laments Asadullah, his weathered face and long white beard showing his hardship.

"Now we barely make 25 000 afghani." Like his neighbours in the village of Torma - sweltering in heat and criss-crossed by streams where boys play - Asadullah first tried planting corn, which failed.

"We didn't have money for fertiliser," he said, adding most people turned to the hardier mung bean, which is easier to grow, but yields a fraction of the profit of poppy.