Poppy cultivation drop by 50 per cent in Kandahar

18/07/2018

KANDAHAR CITY (SW) – Poppy cultivation has dropped by 50 per cent in Kandahar province, officials informed on Wednesday.

 Gul Mohammad Shukran,  head of the directorate of counter-narcotics in Kandahar, informed Salam Watandar poppy was cultivated on some 35,000 jeribs of land in the province last year, but now that has been reduced to just 18,000  jeribs of land this year. The head of the directorate of counter-narcotics further said farmers voluntarily destroyed poppy cultivated on some 10,000 jeribs of land.

Modern techniques taught to the farmers for grapes and pistachio farming have played a positive role in encouraging farmers to quit poppy farming, he added.

A number of such farmers said economic hardships and joblessness forced many of them to opt for poppy farming as the officials have failed to keep many promises made towards helping the farmers.

Mohammad Akram and Sharifullah, two farmers in the province, said they would not hesitate quitting poppy farming if provided with alternate means of earning. The farmers want the government to help them improve yield and access markets.

Estimates suggest up to 1000,000 people are addicted to drugs in the province.

ENDS

 

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