Nad Ali farmers vow to grow poppies

LASHKARGAH (PAN): Farmers from the Nad Ali district of southern Helmand province on Thursday warned to grow poppy crops if the government failed to provide them with basic amenities of life and address their concerns about insecurity.

Nearly 200 farmers coming from Nad Ali gathered in front of the governor’s house to seek permission from officials for growing the banned plant, but they were told by the governor, Gulab Mangal, that no one would be allowed to sow poppy crops.

However, the farmers vowed to cultivate poppies at all costs, saying they would effectively respond to any aggression by the government.

They claimed they had not been provided so for with any assistance by the government and their youth were jobless. They also complained of lack of security in the district, where people lived in a constant fear.

Hazrat Mohammad, one of the growers, said the government should first provide them security, health clinics, schools and irrigation water and then it should ban the cultivation of poppy crops.

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