Publications / India case study

India’s experiences in licensing poppy cultivation for the production of essential medicines

Lessons for Afghanistan by Romesh Bhattacharji, former narcotics commissioner of India
June 2007

Important lessons from the experiences of Indian farmers, administrators and security experts could inform the implementation of a Poppy for Medicine project in Afghanistan. The role played by the Indian farming villages, and in particular the role played by the village headman, in controlling poppy cultivation and limiting diversion in licensed poppy cultivation projects has empowered a variety of stakeholders. This lesson is particularly relevant with regards to the social control hierarchies present in Afghan rural societies.




Full report in English (220 kb, pdf)