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CNN Live At Daybreak

Interim Government in Afghanistan Has Launched Campaign to Eradicate Poppies for Opium Trade

Aired April 29, 2002 - 05:17   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: The interim government in Afghanistan has launched a campaign to eradicate poppies for the opium trade.

But as our Walter Rodgers reports from the poppy fields outside Jalalabad, the program has little chance of success.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

WALTER RODGERS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Armed with sticks and rifles, even with rockets, you're never quite sure if they're going to beat these opium poppies to death or shoot them. This is the Afghan front of the war on drugs in Nangahar Province (ph). The local governor's troops ordered to destroy the poppy fields which provide heroin for users from Moscow to London to New York.

In recent years, Afghanistan produced over 70 percent of the world's heroin. By destroying these poppies the government in Kabul is trying to help persuade the West to help rebuild Afghanistan.

ASHRAF GHANI, AFGHAN COORDINATION GROUP: We have shown despite our young age for this government that we are determined to do our bit. Now it's up to you.

RODGERS: Afghan farmers in one province rebelled at poppy destruction. All claim they earned 10 times more planting opium poppies than planting wheat. Worse, they sold poppy crops in advance, collecting cash before the harvest, cash they no longer have. This farmer said, "We are in debt. The buyers are asking for their opium. We're in trouble."

The Afghan government promised farmers $250 for every acre of poppies destroyed. Farmers claim the poppies are worth over $5,000 an acre. Some fear they will never see even the $250 in a country rife with corruption. Resentment simmers. Small farmers say they're being singled out and there are so many poppies planted, eradicating them all is not possible.

(on camera): The truth is the weak Afghan government in Kabul cannot afford any serious poppy crop eradication. Opium farming is one of Afghanistan's biggest money makers and any widespread eradication would only further weaken an already crippled economy and further destabilize an already unstable Afghan government. would only further weaken an already crippled economy and further destabilize an already unstable Afghan government.

(voice-over): In a Shinwar (ph) opium market, dealers are sullen. Many here earn thousands of dollars a day trading this heroin base and will not give up that profit willingly. What about the drugs poisoning children in the West? If it bothers them, if heroin upsets them, don't buy it, this dealer said.

Among Afghan farmers, the same. The Afghan people are starving. We don't care about other people.

Farmers are poor here, but so is nearly everyone else, and one Afghan dismissed the poppy farmers as simply greedy.

Yet despite this symbolic effort, drug enforcement officials believe this is too little too late and that Afghans will again enjoy the dubious distinction of producing a bumper crop of poppies that will flood the world with cheap heroin.

Walter Rodgers, CNN, Nangahar Province, Afghanistan.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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