Kalistani Major History

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Kalistani-Solentian Opium partnership hits full steam
First major crop following Agriculture exchange yields great dividends
ODEN-K, Kaliburg, Ananto
May 18, 5121


Opium cultivation spreads to Solentia as two nations cooperate to expand growth

ODEN-K reports that the first major crop of the joint Solentian-Kalistani opium operations is harvested, yielding more than 3200 tonnes of raw opium latex.

"Solentia's opium operations have hit the stage where they are now self sufficient and profitable," reports ODEN-K spokesman Jesus Rodriguez. "We have been the primary importer of Solentian opium latex, and have recorded imports of 3200 tonnes, or about a third of Kalistan's totals. At this point, we believe that Solentian growers have turned a profit in the first time since the industry was begun just about three years ago. With this, we welcome Solentia to the family of producers."

Rodriguez recounted the arrival of Solentian planters who sought technical advice from the Kalistani Growers' association about how to start an opium industry. "We offered a high degree of technical expertise in the areas of cultivation, fertilization, climatary requirements, drainage, and cultivation, including scoring the pods, collecting and drying the latex, as well as instruction on processing. It obviously took a couple years to switch significantly large areas to poppy production, but this year, our technical advisors noted that Solentian latex was profitable in the Kalistani depot."

ODEN-K has offered price supports for Solentian Opium while they establish their own markets. "Opium production is an exceptionally good idea for Solentia," said Rodriguez. "It allows them to take marginal and underutilized lands and put them under the plow to further enhance cultivation options for Solentian Farmers." While ODEN has offered to continue to buy raw opium from Solentia for processing in the Republic, it has also stressed that Solentia should take the opportunity to develop its own processing operations as well. "ODEN is a cartel. As a result, we operate under different rules in the international market. We don't compete with local operations. So if Solentia wants to develop its own markets and supply chains to supply the world, ODEN welcomes the opportunity to see more raw and processed opium on the world market. It eases supply pressure from ODEN nations, and gives us new sources of materials to sell at the entrepot in Kaliburg."

Rodriguez anticipates growth in the supply from Solentia. Kalistan will continue to provide all requested technical assistance and will continue to import Opium from Solentia for the foreseeable future to ensure that the opium industry takes root.