Crops will increase as aid decreases

Afghan farmers are experiencing a bumper crop of poppies this year.

Poppies yield opium, which in turn yields heroin.

The profits have funded the Taliban in the past – leading to temporarily successful American efforts to eradicate the crop.

However, it is a large part of the Afghan economy, and has made a comeback.

With American troops withdrawing and foreign aid expected to dwindle, Afghan reliance on the opium trade doesn’t look like it will end anytime soon.