March 16, 2003	Sunday	Muharram 12, 1424

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MOHMAND AGENCY, March 15: The political administration of Mohmand agency destroyed poppy crop during the drive against the cultivation of the crop in the area in last few days.

According to sources the political administration of Mohmand agency destroyed poppy crop in about an area of 350 kanals in Ambaar (Utman khel). More than 80 per cent of the land is cleared of this crop in the last few days.

The poppy is cultivated in this area because there is no other profitable business here and people of Mohmand agency grow these crops to earn their livelihood.

Some of the poppy growers told Dawn that people are ready to destroy poppy crop on their land but government should provide them alternative means of earning.

“Government had not taken any practical steps to develop this area and that is the reason the people grow poppy crops on their lands”, a local farmer told Dawn .

The cultivators of the agency demanded the government to develop marble industry and provide fertilisers and seeds of wheat and other crops to the local farmers.