POPPY FARMERS PROPOSE DEAL WITH CANADIANS

Say They Won't Seed Next Season If Harvest Allowed To Proceed

KANDAHAR, Afghanistan - A large group of Afghan poppy farmers has
handed Canadian soldiers an unusual offer, pledging not to grow the
illicit plant next year if they're allowed to harvest their crop this
year with no interference from Afghan officials intent on crushing
the country's opium trade.

More than 15 village elders, representing hundreds of farmers,
recently made the plea to soldiers at Canada's remote firebase near
the town of Gombad, in the rugged countryside north of Kandahar.

"They're afraid of the government plowing up their fields," said Maj.
Kirk Gallinger, who commands a company of Edmonton-based troops
trying to fight the Taliban in the district around Gombad.

"They came and asked us to support them, and to pass on a request to
the (Afghan) government not to eradicate their crops this year. In
return, they'll pledge not to grow any poppies next year."

Poppy growing is at the heart of Afghanistan's problems. An estimated
4,000 tonnes of opium is smuggled out of the country every year. The
$3-billion- U.S. trade is controlled exclusively by drug barons, many
of them connected to the Taliban insurgency.

The farmers' plea illustrates the awkward and dangerous position
Canadian soldiers find themselves in this spring, as Afghanistan's
underground poppy harvest approaches.

Canada officially supports programs to tear out poppy fields and
eradicate the illegal opium trade. The federal government is also
funding efforts to find alternative crops for poppy farmers. At the
same time, Canadian troops on the ground are trying to win the
loyalties of rural Afghan farmers, telling them the Canadian army
itself has nothing to do with eradicating their crops.

"We are caught in the middle," Maj. Gallinger said. "Soldiers realize
the effect poppy growing has on Afghanistan and that opium has in the
world. We understand the importance of the eradication program.

"But there's also an immediate concern that the farmers might take up
weapons against us (if soldiers are seen to support poppy
eradication) and we're also sympathetic with the farmers.

"Mostly, (farmers are) trying to earn an income to put food on their table."

Maj. Gallinger did pass the farmers' request to a local government
official last week, but he said no one believes the farmers will
uphold their pledge not to grow poppies next year in return for a
grace period this year.

"I'm afraid that might be wishful thinking," he said.

Brig.-Gen. David Fraser, the Canadian commander of coalition forces
in the south, said the opium trade must be destroyed and that
Canadian forces do support the anti-poppy work of the national
government in Kabul.

"Poppies will kill this country if left to go unchecked," he said in
a recent interview.

But Brig.-Gen. Fraser is equally adamant that Canadian troops aren't
here for this reason.

"We're not here to do poppy eradication. That's not our job."