If they are thinking counter-drug in Afghanistan, they should be thinking of buying the drugs up from the producers at a mid-range price.   And physically knocking down the poppies in other fields that will not sell. 

 

Spraying the fields will just start a bigger war and kill more women and childern.  Guess what big thinkers.  Afghanistan has only limited water and growable areas, you spray the fields you get the corps too, poison the water, and really make the locals MAD.

 

The people at the top of these decision need to be thinking 2nd and 3rd order effects.

 

V/r,

An Old Tanker

A good idea, but offer to buy up the poppies at the equivalent value of a good produce crop on the same land.  If you base the payment on the value of the poppy you will just end up subsidizing production.