Afghanistan, the biggest producer of opium, may not harvest any more poppy after the Taliban introduced a country-wide blanket ban on its production on Sunday. The bright red poppy flower is used to make opium, which in turn is used to make heroin.

Haibatullah Akhundzada, the leader of the Taliban, said in an order on Sunday, “As per the decree of the supreme leader of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, all Afghans are informed that from now on, cultivation of poppy has been strictly prohibited across the country.”

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The order also warned farmers that their crops will be burned and that they can be jailed if they proceed with the harvest. Those who violate the order will be treated in accordance with Sharia Law.

Similar steps were taken by the Taliban months after they were removed from power about two decades ago. According to reports from Reuters citing experts, the Taliban banned the production while seeking international legitimacy but later ended up overturning their decision after facing backlash.

During the last years of the Taliban rule, wheat was rotting in fields because the farmers were unable to bring it to market to be sold and ground into flour.

Poppies are the main source of income for millions of small farmers and day laborers who can earn upwards of $300 a month harvesting them and extracting the opium, according to reports from the Associated Press.

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According to a report published by the United Nations in 2021, income from opiates in Afghanistan was a whopping $1.8 to $2.7 billion, more than 7% of the country’s GDP. The same report said “illicit drug supply chains outside Afghanistan” make much more.

Afghanistan produces more opium than all opium-producing countries combined and last year was the sixth straight year of record opium harvests, according to reports from Associated Press.