Delegation visits southern Afghanistan to talk to poppy growers

[bemildred]

KABUL, Aug 30 (KUNA) -- Senior officials of the United States and United Kingdom, chief of the UN Office on Drugs and Crimes (UNODC) and Afghanistan's Minister for Counter Narcotics, on Wednesday visited the southern region of Afghanistan to discuss ways and means with official and elders on how to stop poppy cultivation in those areas.

Afghanistan is the world's largest poppy-growing country, and more land in the country was cultivated with poppies in 2006 as compared to the previous four years.

The high-level delegation, which stayed in Kandahar province, held meetings with elders from different provinces and listen to their problems and demands.

While several tribal elders assured the government of their support in the war against drugs, other showed reservations about the government's anti-poppy drive, saying they needed alternative sources of livelihood before doing away with the illegal business. Chief of the UNODC Antonio Maria Costa said the farmers were ready to do away with the banned crop but they wanted assistance in return. The UNODC in its report, warned poppy cultivation in Afghanistan would increase this year.

KUNA

[leftyladyfrommo]

1. I don't think talking will do much good.

Those growers make a lot of money. Until they have some other way to make that kind of money they won't stop growing.

[frylock]

2. someone should let the cia know..

this could cut into their funding for black ops.