MAKING HAY? NOT IF YOU GROW POPPIES

In Afghanistan, Compensating For Ruined Crops Is A Tricky Task; Canadian Forces

PANJWAII DISTRICT, Afghanistan - When paying compensation to Afghans
for collateral damage from military operations, Canadian Forces have
drawn a line in the sand where the poppies grow.

Soldiers in the Mushan region were in a unique bind recently after
their 83-vehicle convoy rumbled over two crops -- one wheat, one
poppy -- to set up an overnight security perimeter.

Land was torn up and both crops ground into the mud. The wheat farmer
would have to be compensated, but the poppy growers presented a
Catch-22. Replacement Canadian and Afghanistan soldiers in the region
had just arrived that day. Angering locals by not paying for poppies
was a poor start for soldiers about to forge new relationships. But
the alternative was to finance the drug trade.

According to a recent NATO report, 93% of the global opium supply
comes fromAfghanistan poppies. Poor farmers grow the illegal crop
because it is profitable, but much of the money lands in Taliban pockets.

Canadians discussed the security implications, but decided they had
little choice. They agreed it would look unseemly and send the wrong message.

"Poppies are not recognized as a legal crop by the government of
Afghanistan," Major Mark Campbell of the operational mentoring and
liaison team later told the group who met to negotiate and collect
their compensation. "We will not pay for it. We will only pay for the
land so it can be properly irrigated to grow a proper crop, like wheat."

The decision was not popular. Three men who openly admitted to owning
the poppy field wanted to be compensated for both the crop and land
damage, as the wheat farmer had.

Half the wheat field was lost, a swath of roughly 15,000 square
metres. The farmer asked for $1,600 in return. After being
fingerprinted and signing his name on the dotted line, he counted his
money and left satisfied.

The three poppy farmers grudgingly agreed to share $300, although
they lost nearly as much crop as the wheat farmer. The vast
difference in compensation wasn't lost on them.

"It's important to understand that the International Security
Assistance Force didn't want to destroy these crops," Maj. Campbell
explained. "We and the Afghan National Army had to take that route to
avoid IEDs laid by the Taliban."

His emphasis reflected the fact that compensation acts as a crucial
goodwill measure. Many in Kandahar province live in poverty and
cannot afford to lose an income to military operations.

"It goes to not creating negative impacts on our operations by
aggravating people," said Major James Allen of the provincial
reconstruction team. "For the most part, they appreciate it."

However, some Afghans have grown impatient waiting for what they feel
they're owed. In the city of Bazaer-E last week, agitated Panjwaii
district elders complained to Canadian troops that the money comes too slowly.