Afghan government vows to eliminate poppy

The government of Afghanistan is determined to eradicate poppy and check the increasing illicit drug products in the country, Deputy Interior Minister on counter narcotics said Sunday.

"Though the war on drug is not easy, we are determined to continue our fight against the menace till its complete elimination from society," General Mohammad Daud Daud told newsmen at a press conference.

Afghanistan, with poppy output reaching 6,100 tones in 2006, has topped the poppy producing countries in supplying raw material for manufacturing heroin in the world.

Afghanistan, producing 4,100 tones in 2005 and 4,200 tones of opium poppy in 2004, had also been recognized as the largest single supplier of the illicit drug in the world.

Commenting on the new strategy to control poppy cultivation, the official said that 11 ministers had been tasked to monitor the implementation of government's efforts in 11 poppy growing provinces of the country which includes Helmand and Kandahar.

"Any officials in the local governments, including the district chiefs, if fail to check poppy cultivation, would be dismissed as punishment," Daud added.

The official also blamed security incidents and militancy as the main factor behind increasing poppy cultivation in the country.

"Some 75 percent of poppy cultivation had taken place in the restive southern provinces while 45 percent of it only in Helmand province," the official said.

A stronghold of Taliban in south Afghanistan, Helmand is famous for poppy product and militancy in the war-ravaged country.

"Besides talking to the locals and convincing them to give up poppy cultivation, we would also use police force to prevent poppy plantation," the official added.

Source: Xinhua