GARMSIR DISTRICT, Helmand province, Afghanistan — More than 100 local men attended a wheat distribution shura at the district center here, Oct. 8. The event was part of a series of shuras held throughout Helmand by Provincial Governor Gulab Mangal to promote the growth of wheat and other licit crops ahead of the coming poppy season.
“Poppy is a long term problem and is district wide,” said Capt. Joshua Cavan, assistant operations officer for 1st Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment and a native of Amherst, N.Y.
The initiative to the counter poppy growth began in 2008. Eliminating poppy growth in Helmand would deal a huge blow to the narcotics trade and, in turn, a key source of insurgent funding in the province.
With provincial security improving due to the efforts of Afghan and coalition forces, the Afghan government looks to provide local farmers with wheat seed at a highly subsidized price. This program should provide enough incentive to free farmers from their dependence on the lucrative, insurgent-run poppy trade.
“The wheat seed is a way to get things started,” Cavan said. “Poppy is a very valuable crop… This is the [Afghan government’s] way to help lessen the local people’s dependence on poppy and remove the excuse to grow it.”
During the series of shuras, Mangal plans to hand out more than 40,000 wheat seed packages in Helmand. In Garmsir, more than 4,000 wheat seed packages are scheduled for distribution to local farmers. Each package contains approximately 50 kilograms of wheat seed, 150 kilograms of fertilizer and five kilograms of winter vegetable seed.
The price for this type of package in an average Helmand bazaar is more than 10,000 Afghani. Local farmers receive the packages at one fourth the cost. Afghan government officials believe the subsidized price will encourage farmers to sell licit crops, like wheat, at local markets vice selling poppy to insurgents
Participants at the shura also highlighted the fact that growing poppy is counter to the laws of Islam and the Afghan government.
“Poppy fields are against the law, so grow Halal [legal edible crop by Islamic Law] and stop growing Haram [illegal edible crop by Islamic Law],” said District Governor Mohammad Fahim. “The last three years we have been trying to stop poppy growth. This year we will crack down on poppy growth and poppy farmers.”
“I personally talked to many elders in Garmsir and have their word they will not grow poppy this year,” Fahim added. “Anyone who benefits from poppy is working against the government and is breaking the law.”
Since 2008, the growth of poppy has decreased by more than 75,000 acres of farm field. Helmand province is still the leading producer of poppy in Afghanistan, but due to the partnered security effort and provincial government programs supporting alternative crop growth, progress has been undeniable.
“These shuras reinforce the importance of removing narcotics and drug movement out of Helmand,” said British Army Maj. Russ Deuchar, a counter narcotics officer with the Provincial Reconstruction Team and a native of Northern Ireland, U.K. “The positive effects of providing subsidized crop seed improves the business at local bazaars, which in-turn increases the quality of life of the Afghans in the local communities.”
After the winter crop season, the Afghan government plans to hold another series of shuras focused poppy interdiction. During these shuras, the provincial governor will warn farmers that if poppy is found in their fields, they will be held responsible by Afghan law and their fields will be plowed before they can harvest the poppy.
“You are good people and I want you to think about your children,” said Mangal during the shura. “The young generation is increasingly becoming addicted to poppy; you are the ones supplying them with this drug. People who use poppy, or heroin, cannot do their jobs properly and eventually become animals.”
Speakers at the shura emphasized the fact that continued poppy growth allows insurgent forces to linger in Helmand. The insurgent narcotics trade funds the placement improvised explosive devices, placing both the local people and coalition forces in greater danger.
“Poppy is money to [insurgent forces],” said Cavan. “The [insurgent forces] protect the poppy, so that is where [IEDs] and fighters come from. You take away poppy, you take away the insurgents hold of an area and give the local government room to grow.
“Poppy fields are against our religion,” Mangal added. “Anything like poppy is dangerous to our health. Let’s rid ourselves of it for the betterment of society. Those who grow poppy on government land will suffer more under the current law. The costs will be taken from your pocket, including your farming equipment. Get food that feeds your family from legal crops, poppy doesn’t feed hungry mouths.”
Editor’s note: First Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, is currently assigned to Regimental Combat Team 5, 2nd Marine Division (Forward), which heads Task Force Leatherneck. The task force serves as the ground combat element of Regional Command (Southwest) and works in partnership with the Afghanistan National Security Forces and the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan to conduct counterinsurgency operations. The unit is dedicated to securing the Afghan people, defeating insurgent forces, and enabling the ANSF assumption of security responsibilities within its operations in order to support the expansion of stability, development and legitimate governance.
| Date Taken: |
10.14.2011 |
| Date Posted: |
10.14.2011 12:20 |
| Story ID: |
78493 |
| Location: |
GARMSIR DISTRICT, AF |
| Web Views: |
278 |
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0 |
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This work, Growing a better crop, by Cpl Colby Brown, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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