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Mafia behind poppy cultivation in Badakhshan

Mafia behind poppy cultivation in Badakhshan

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1 Apr 2015 - 20:29
Mafia behind poppy cultivation in Badakhshan
author avatar
1 Apr 2015 - 20:29

FAIZABAD (Pajhwok): The acting governor on Wednesday said drug mafia groups encouraged poverty-stricken farmers to cultivate poppy crops in their fields in northeastern Badakhshan province.

Shah Waliullah Adeeb said this while addressing an anti-narcotics conference in Faizabad, the provincial capital. He said the supply and demand of drugs in European and central Asia countries was the main reason behind poppy cultivation in Badakhshan.

Although Badakhshan has made brazen achievements in eradication of poppy over the past three years, farmers here are yet to be provided with an alternate source on income.

Counternarcotics Director Muhammad Qaidi said the illicit crop was eradicated on 4,000 acres of land in Badaskhshan last year, when totally 7,000 acres were sown with the plant. “But this solar year, the Afghan government is keen on bringing the cultivation down to zero level.”

Badakhshan is yet to become poppy free province to benefit from the one million dollars reward from the Ministry of Counternarcotics.

Ministry of Counternarcotics official Muhammad Ariz Shafaq told the conference the ministry planned to assist Badakhshan with $20 millions to help the provincial administration persuade farmers not to grow poppy crops.

About 200 local officials, including 10 district chiefs, attended the conference.

hs/ma

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