'NO FORCE' ON AFGHAN POPPY FARMERS

The governor of one of Afghanistan's leading opium producing regions says
the government must still convince poppy farmers to grow alternative crops.

With two weeks to go until annual cultivation is due to begin again in the
eastern Nangarhar province, Governor Haji Din Mohammad says he will only
stop farmers if the central government orders him to.

Despite a ban on opium production by President Hamid Karzai's government,
it is estimated that Afghanistan's poppy crops will yield nearly 3,000
tonnes this year.

The ban, imposed in January 2002, came into effect when already most fields
had been sown.

Alternative Options

But now the time has begun for next year's plantings.

Growing Poppy Remains An Attractive Choice

Haji din Mohammed says farmers are preparing to sow their fields and unless
he has a direct order from the government in Kabul he will not stop them.

He says if the order does come, rather than using force, farmers must be
convinced there are acceptable alternatives.

The governor says people are looking for projects which give them a chance
to break their dependency on the crop.

He cited one example, where authorities built a dam so farmers had enough
water to begin new ventures.

Low Risks

He says other infrastructure improvements in providing electricity,
improving roads and providing education could also help to convince people
that life is getting better.

But the addiction to poppy farming is hard to break.

Profits and job opportunities in poppy cultivation are high and the risks
seem low.

This view is strengthened by the number of farmers who are engaged in opium
production and the few who have faced prosecution.