Pubdate: Tue, 10 Mar 2015
Source: Kathmandu Post, The (Nepal)
Copyright: 2015 Kathmandu Post
Contact:  http://www.kathmandupost.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/222
Author: Pratap Bista
Page: 4

OPIUM, POT FARMING GOES UNCHECKED IN REMOTE VILLAGES

Opium farming and trafficking have flourished in remote villages of 
Makawanpur district in recent times following the inability of 
concerned authorities to come up with effective measures to prevent 
local farmers from indulging in cultivation of such illegal crops.

The local authorities have been unable to check illegal cultivation 
of opium and marijuana in the remote villages despite frequent police 
campaigns to destroy these illegal crops. The failure is largely 
attributed to the inability of security personnel to reach the remote 
parts of the district to destroy marijuana and opium plantation and 
arrest those involved in its production and trafficking.

The local farmers are mostly cultivating opium in the remote parts of 
Baksirang in Bharta-2, a place where security personnel have been 
unable to reach as it is surrounded by thick forest.

"Our farm produce don't have access to the market because this 
village is not connected to any road. Therefore, we are compelled to 
grow marijuana and opium as cash crops, as traffickers come to us to 
buy them and we don't have to go anywhere," said a farmer involved in 
illegal cultivation of opium and marijuana in Bharta.

Farmers in this remote village, which doesn't even have a police 
post, have been involved in marijuana farming for the past two years.

"Drug smugglers even encourage local farmers to be involved in opium 
farming to earn more income," said a teacher at a local school 
Bharta. While some reports say smugglers even fund these farms.

With the money they have made through illegal cultivation of 
marijuana and opium, some people in Bharta have even bought houses in 
towns like Manahari and Hetauda.

District Agricultural Development Office, including other social 
organisations, have been regularly providing agricultural trainings 
including seeds to local farmers for cultivating green vegetables and 
fruits. But the local farmers are still not attracted towards 
production of vegetables and fruits knowing that they will not find 
the market for their produce due to lack of roadway connecting their 
village to towns like Manahari and Hetauda.

Chet Bahadur Thokar, a local teacher said locals will become 
interested in cultivating vegetables and fruits if Bharta could be 
connected to Manahari by a roadway.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom