Mohammad Tahir was dubious about not growing poppy on his one-acre plot of land in Pashton Zargon District, Herat Province, western Afghanistan this year, but has now made a decision. “I will not cultivate opium this year. I will only grow saffron this time,” the young farmer, who feeds an extended family, told IRIN.

“It [saffron] is a legitimate crop and also the profit is `halal’ [in accordance with Islamic law],” he said.

This issue paper reviews the existing empirical studies on the relevance of agriculture on livelihoods of people and contrasts it with the approach of the local government and aid agencies. The paper also examines how rehabilitation effort and poppy trade has shaped the relationship between aid agencies and the farmers. It concludes by recommending a more pragmatic and principled approach to efforts for agriculture development and its impact on livelihoods