CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan - More than 48,000 Afghan farmers can benefit from Gov. Gulab Mangal’s Food Zone Program by growing alternative crops and abandoning the cultivation of poppies.
Under the governor’s program, alternative crops such as wheat, vegetables and forage seeds are offered to Helmand province farmers as a substitute harvest to poppy.
Wheat seed recently arrived in Lashkar Gah, the capital of Helmand province, and is scheduled to be transported to 10 districts throughout the province where it will be distributed to the farmers.
Two recent counter narcotic shuras were held in Helmand province. Governor Mangal lead the shura in Nad Ali, promoting his program to more than 200 farmer, elders and officials.
“Counter narcotic shuras were held in Nad-e Ali and Musa Qala, providing an opportunity for the government to encourage local people to engage in licit cultivation, and informing them of the assistance that will be made to them under the food zone program,” said an official with the Helmand Provincial Reconstruction Team.
Despite security concerns, the Provincial Director of Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock, Counternarcotics, and the Provincial Council, who are all promoting the Food Zone project, traveled by road to attend the shura in Nad Ali.
The Provincial Reconstruction Team official said government officials deliberately did this to demonstrate their confidence in the security of the road leading from Lashkar Gah to Nad Ali.
Once the seed is delivered to the districts, it will be distributed to the farmers. The seed is estimated to be worth 200 dollars per package. Farmers can obtain the seed for 35 percent of its cost.
Coalition forces and civilian personnel will be in place to distribute the seeds to farmers once it reaches its respective districts.
Future shuras are scheduled for the Marjah and Garmsir Districts to continue to promote information on alternative harvesting.
Follow-up farm visits are schedule to take place and will provide farmers with technical assistance in cultivation, irrigation, fertilizer application and harvesting.