Above 3,000 acres of land cleared of poppies in Uruzgan

TIRINKOT (PAN): More than 3,000 acres of land was cleared of poppy crops during a campaign in central Uruzgan province, an official said on Thursday.

The ongoing poppy eradication drive was launched last week, police chief, Brig. Gen. Matitullah Khan, told Pajhwok Afghan News.

He said the campaign targeted poppy fields in the Khanqi, Shah Mansur, Charmagar, and other areas, where more than 3,000 acres of land sown with the crop was destroyed.

Security personnel encountered no problem during the campaign, the police chief said, asking farmers to help the security forces make the process a success.

Merza Khan, a tribal elder from Khanqi area, confirmed his poppy crops were destroyed during the campaign. He said due his poor economic situation, he was compelled to sow poppy crops in his fields in order to eke out a living.

mrh/ma

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