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ZHARAY DISTRICT, KANDAHAR PROVINCE, Afghanistan – Farmers and landowners residing in Zharay district signed “New Opportunity” contracts, Nov. 8-11, in exchange for wheat seed and fertilizer distributed by soldiers with the 3rd Brigade, 205th Corps. The “New Opportunity” contracts are agreements between local farmers and the district government to stop growing poppy or marijuana on their land, and turn to legal crops such as wheat.
Over 50 farmers residing in, or around the village of Siab Jan, agreed to stop producing poppy in exchange for assistance in growing wheat.
Soldiers from the 1st Kandak, 3rd Brigade, 205th Corps, along with soldiers from Combined Task Force Spartan’s 1st Battalion, 32nd Infantry Regiment, secured the village in central Zharay district before handing out over 60 bags of wheat seed and fertilizer to the families who gathered.
In the past, many farmers have produced poppy, which was their livelihood. Afghan government officials, and Afghan and coalition security forces have worked together to assure the local population that growing a crop other than illegal poppy, will be sufficient income for them and their families, and also convincing them that the insurgents will not have enough influence in the villages to harm them for not growing poppy.
Near Ghundy Ghar in western Zharay district, soldiers with the 4th Kandak, 3rd Brigade, 205th Corps distributed over 40 bags of wheat seed to residents from four different compounds. During their stop to the first compound, the soldiers were told to come back with additional bags of seed, for a total of 14 bags. During their stop at the second compound, the soldiers were approached by a member of the Kuchi Tribe who lived west and requested bags of seed. The Afghan soldiers drove back to Combat Outpost Ghundey Ghar, and retrieved seven bags of wheat for two Kuchi tents.
The commander of Combined Task Force Spartan’s 4th Battalion, 25th Field Artillery Regiment, Lt. Col. Christopher Taylor, said that the 4th Kandak’s Artillery Company continues to take positive steps forward.
“Artillery Company continues to take initiative and distribute wheat seed with minimum U.S. presence,” said Lt. Col. Taylor.
In the village of Habib in eastern Zharay district, 26 farmers who grew poppy signed pledges to transition to growing wheat. Most of the farmers and landowners owned fields less than one jerib, the traditional unit of measure for acreage, equivalent to 2,000 square meters.
Afghan soldiers on site had extra fertilizer bags on hand, and additional bags were distributed to the crowd who gathered. Those who received the wheat seed and fertilizer were also enrolled into a biometrics database.
The New Opportunities program is part of a larger program to ensure that local villages are stable. Afghan and coalition forces have successfully secured local communities, and now the focus has shifted to stabilizing those communities.
Coalition forces leaders say ensuring stability in local Afghan communities will ensure the continued support of Afghan security forces, the local government, and soldiers helping the Afghans.
| Date Taken: | 11.13.2011 |
| Date Posted: | 11.17.2011 06:29 |
| Story ID: | 80159 |
| Location: | KANDAHAR PROVINCE, AF |
| Web Views: | 46 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Zharay district farmers, landowners sign crop transition contracts, by CPT Kevin Sandell, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
