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JALALABD (SW): The Directorate of Counter Narcotics in Nangarhar province has launched campaign to eradicate the poppy fields right on the time of its farming.
Idris Sapi, head of the Directorate of Counter Narcotics in Nangarhar, told Salam Watandar that three weeks ago they have started the campaign to eradicate poppy fields, and so far about 500 acres of poppy fields have been destroyed. According to Mr. Sapi, 400 farmers were also arrested during the past month in connection with poppy cultivation.
Idris Sapi said the goal of launching the campaign to eradicate poppy cultivation simultaneously with its cultivation season is to prevent the losses of the farmers and the cultivation of the opium poppy in the coming seasons. He added that according to the preliminary data gathered by the Directorate of Counter Narcotics of Nangarhar, the poppy cultivation in the province has decreased by 30 to 40 percent of this year.
However, the farmers in Nangarhar vowed that they will not grow poppy in their fields if the government provides an alternative to them. Officials at the Directorate of Counter Narcotics in Nangarhar said that the campaign to destroy poppy fields will continue until the farmers grow other seasonal crops in their lands.
According to latest reports, poppy farming and production of the opium have increased by 87 percent across Afghanistan this year.
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