Afghan President Hamid Karzai on Wednesday called on farmers to stop growing poppies used in the production of opium.
It was time to focus on the real agriculture, he told a ceremony announcing the preliminary results of the country's parliamentary elections.
Afghan drug production has skyrocketed since the U.S.-led invasion toppled the Taliban in 2001.
Russia has been one of the countries most affected by the increase.
According to Russia's drug watchdog, Afghan opium kills around 100,000 people around the world and around 30,000 Russians each year.
KABUL, October 20 (RIA Novosti)
