U.S. pledges $38.7 mln to Afghan poppy free provinces

KABUL, Nov. 23 -- In efforts to eradicate poppy in the post-Taliban country, U.S. and Afghan government signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) Monday, in which the United States pledged 38.7 million U.S. dollars to poppy-free provinces under Good Performer's Initiative (GPI), a program to encourage farmers give up poppy cultivation.

"One of the U.S. government' highest priorities in Afghanistan has been to support the Afghan government's efforts to combat the scourge of narcotics, including through our Good Performers Initiative program," Anthony Wayne, Coordinating Director for Development and Economic Affairs at the U.S. Embassy, told reporters after inking the MOU with Afghan acting minister for Counter-Narcotics Khudaidad who like many Afghans uses one name.

Afghan minister said that survey conducted by United Nations Office on Drugs and Crimes (UNODC) has found poppy cultivation decreased by 24 percent in 2009 in the country.

The survey also indicated that 20 out of the country's 34 provinces are poppy free while some province have reduced the level of poppy plantation.

Under the GPI program the U.S. and Afghan government would reward those provinces that either reduced poppy cultivation to zero or decreased the level of poppy product.

The poppy-growing and militancy-plagued Helmand province has received the ever biggest reward under GPI program, Khudaidad told the journalists after signing the agreement.

"Helmand will receive 10 million U.S. dollars under GPI program for inducing poppy cultivation by 33.7 percent," Afghan minister for Counter-Narcotics said.

Three provinces, Baghlan, Faryab and Kapisa, will receive one million U.S. dollars each for becoming poppy free for the first time, he added.

"Since 2007, the U.S. has pledged over 80 million U.S. dollars under GPI, making it one of the Embassy's largest counter-narcotics programs," said Wayne.

"The ministry has used GPI funds to provide agriculture machinery for farmers associations, rebuilding irrigation systems, cleaning canals and construct public buildings such as clinics, schools and sport stadiums," the U.S. official further said.

Afghanistan with an output of 8,200 tons opium poppy in 2008 had topped poppy growing nations in producing raw materials used in manufacturing heroin in the world.

Despite decrease in poppy-cultivation the war-torn country according to reports still supplies over 90 percent illicit drug to the world.