EU GIVES MOROCCO $1 MILLION TO REPLACE CANNABIS CROPS

RABAT, March 2 (Reuters) - The European Union donated Morocco 10 million
dirhams ($1.0 million) to replace cannabis plantations with alternate
crops, an E.U. statement said on Monday.

``Nearly 10 million dirhams were donated to Morocco for the development of
its northern provinces to favour the introduction of new business in areas
most affected by cannabis culture,'' the statement said.

It said the project was part of the EU's efforts to stop drug trafficking
and help develop Morocco's northern provinces by encouraging farmers to
grow other crops.

According to Moroccan officials, a total 60,000 hectares are cultivated
with cannabis in the remote northern Rif area annually.

($1- 9.7 dirhams)