Grow vegetables not poppies, authorities urge locals after destroying opium crop

Tribal authorities destroying the harmful part of the poppy crop, used for making opium, during the Mohmand Agency drive. (AN photos)

• Poppy crop expanding over 846 canals of land has been destroyed in the tribal region since the drive started on April 2.
• Poppy ripens in this season which is why is why is was important to destroy it in these days, says political administration of tribal Mohmand Agency.

PESHAWAR: The authorities in Mohmand Agency have launched a campaign to encourage people to grow vegetables following the destruction of the harmful opium poppy crop in the region.
Speaking to Arab News, Assistant Police Agent Tauseef Khalid said that crops in more than 800 canals were destroyed in the campaign from April 2 to April 20. Poppies growing in another 46 canals have been destroyed in the last two days.
“We are now running post-campaign sensitization drive,” said Khalid. “We are holding meetings with the elders of the tribal region, including far-flung areas such as Prang Ghar and Yousaf Baba that are not accessible by road,” he added.
He said that they are trying to persuade the local population to grow vegetables and other crops on their land.
Khalid added: “When we destroy the poppy, we only destroy the harmful part used in making opium. We remove the seeds that are beneficial for health and used in medicines.”
Mohmand Agency’s Political Agent Wasif Saeed told Arab News that the campaign would continue until poppies have been eradicated from Mohmand Agency. He launched the drive after taking up his post on April 9.
“Poppy is a cash crop,” he added. “It fetches good money and has been grown traditionally for centuries. This is why it is not possible to end the practice easily.”