Pomegranates could kill off Afghanistan’s opium trade

[babylonsister]

Pomegranates could kill off Afghanistan’s opium trade
Martin Shipton, South Wales Echo


POMEGRANATES are the key to eliminating heroin, a pioneering charity founder has claimed.

James Brett is spearheading a campaign to persuade farmers in Afghanistan to switch from growing poppies to growing the super-fruit.

He was in Cardiff yesterday as a guest speaker at the annual conference at City Hall of Cymorth Cymru, the organisation that represents people in supported housing.

“I recognised that Afghanistan not only grew the best pomegranates in the world,” said James, who founded the charity Pom 354.

“They also produced more than 90% of the world’s heroin.

“From research I undertook I came to realise that sales of pomegranates on the global market could outstrip the value to Afghanistan of the opium industry.

“With Pom 354 we are putting in place something that is completely viable for the farmers, and that’s vital to the sustainability of the project in Afghanistan.”

more...

http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/2009/02/12/pomegranates-could-kill-off-afghanistan-s-opium-trade-91466-22910009/

[OKNancy]

1. That's interesting. Pomegranates are a popular

fragrance and flavor trend. The fruit would probably be more popular too if there was a better supply.

[beac]

2. This is a great idea! Here's hoping it gets some traction. n/t

[Ocracoker16]

3. Saw a night news story on this

It sounded like an interesting idea. They showed a farmer who talked about how much more money he could make growing pomegranates. They did say that it has been hard to convince farmers to switch from poppy to pomegranates, because poppy growers are connected to traffickers that protect the crop from thiefs and distribute the product.

[Webster Green]

4. I love pomegranates and opium!

The Afghani strains of marijuana are pretty amazing as well. :smoke:

[Ghost in the Machine]

7. Purple Afghanistan .... oh, the (hazy) memories!

Grown in the Everglades in the mid 80's... that stuff would have resin sticking to your lips and have you slobbering all over yourself after 2 or 3 tokes...

:hi:

[baldguy]

5. Will they be selling them for $150/oz?

[foxfeet]

6. Dayum! It's hard to shoot those seeds through a needle

and snorting is a real pain in the ass.

[HysteryDiagnosis]

8. Now if we could get half of the sugar cane grown in the U.S. turned

over to Aloe Barbadensis.... health care costs in the U.S. could be reduced dramatically... that is if people drank the stuff.