Since the fall of the Taliban in Afghanistan, poppy production has skyrocketed in the country. The Afghan heroin industry is by far the largest in the world. For the past several years, a group of Afghan and foreign businessmen has been trying to offer an alternative, by urging farmers to grow flowers for perfume instead of for drugs. But it has been a frustrating and costly project.

— From Promoting Perfume, Not Poppies, in Afghanistan at NPR. Click on the link to read more or listen to the broadcast (about 5 minutes long). Thanks to both Anita and Oedipa for sending the link!