The Department for International Development (DFID) is taking the following steps to support licit alternatives to opium production in Afghanistan:
Contributing £30 million over four years to the Comprehensive Agricultural and Rural Development Facility (CARD-F), a national programme designed to increase legal incomes and sustain poppy free districts across Afghanistan.
Spending around £5 million in support of Governor Mangal's Food Zone programme, to help distribute wheat seed, fertiliser and appropriate training to almost 40,000 farmers across Helmand province. The UK Conflict Fund will also contribute £3 million to this programme.
We are also considering further options to increase productivity nationwide.