U.S. DRUGS OFFICIAL URGES POPPY ERADICATION

ISLAMABAD, - U.S. Assistant
Secretary of State for Narcotics, Rand Beers, urged on Tuesday the
complete eradication of poppy-growing in Pakistan to combat narcotics.

Beers, on an official five-day visit to Pakistan, told Reuters
Television that a combination of law enforcement and development
programmes could force farmers to abandon poppy cultivation, the
source of opium and heroin.

"There is no question anywhere in the world that it is more
economically advantageous for a small farmer to grow poppy than to
grow any legal crop," he said.

"The efforts that governments undertake have to involve a combination
of different concepts. One is alternate development, but alternate
programme in itself will never succeed.

"You have to combine law enforcement in the alternate development,
because no crop, no economic activity will be equal to the return that
individuals get from growing narcotics substances."

Pakistani authorities and farmers in the North West Frontier Province,
which borders Afghanistan, have long demanded financial support from
the United States to provide other sources of income for farmers who
have traditionally grown poppy.

Pakistani government officials have also sought more active
international help in setting up development projects, including
roads, hospitals, water supply and education in the country's most
remote regions.

But Beers said farmers would not stop growing poppy on the basis of
economic incentives alone and the goverment must enforce its
eradication programmes.

"There is no way we can give farmers enough money that will keep the
farmers from growing if the government does not enforce
(eradication)," he said.

Under a U.N. programme, Pakistan has pledged to eliminate poppy
cultivation by year 2000.

In 1998 more than 4,500 acres (1,822 hectares) of poppy crop were
destroyed in tribal areas along the Afghan border. Another 2,000 acres
(810 hectares) were destroyed by tribals voluntarily.

The military has since 1987 helped to destroy crops where locals have
refused to do so. Tribesmen, with little other viable source of
income, say traders will pay 6,000 rupees ($130) per kg for poppy
while wheat or onions fetch only a few rupees per kg.

Governor Arif Bangash, top administrator of the North West Frontier
Province, says eradication efforts are hampered because development
projects do not keep pace with local needs.

Under one programme, the United States and the United Nations have
given Pakistan $12 million to fund a 10-year development plan in the
province. But Bangash says the sum is far too small.