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AFGHANISTAN, BARNABAD, 23 APRIL 2006
Poppies that have just lost their flowers and are almost ready to give opium.
The afghan poppy fields are blossoming right now and all over the country farmers start gathering the opium from their crops. Meanwhile, the Afghan governement has started an eradication campaign that aims to deter farmers of growing poppies again. However, since growing poppies often mean the only means for an income to many farmers, and alternatives are scarce, farmers still take their chances on a massive scale. Despite the efforts of the government the afghan opium production will be huge again this year.
Photo: Jeroen Oerlemans
