In Torghar, poppygrowers to receive incentives for alternative crops

Govt to respect jirga’s decisions unless in conflict with the law.

ABBOTABAD:

The Hazara administration has decided to give incentives worth Rs5 million to poppy growers in the newly-created Torghar district for growing alternative crops at a meeting held at the Commissioner House on Wednesday.

Commissioner Hazara Khalid Khan Umerzai approved Rs5 million for 2000 farmers to cultivate crops like wheat, maize and vegetables in Torghar. The farmers will be given seeds and fertiliser.

It was also decided in the meeting that the centuries-old  jirga system would remain intact in the settled district of Torghar and its decisions would be respected by the administration provided they did not violate the law of the land.

The district administration would also expel criminals from the district on the jirga’s recommendation.

The commissioner told the meeting that the Rs140 million Wapda was to have paid as compensation to the families affected by Tarbela Dam three decades ago had been transferred to the divisional administration.

This amount would be spent on development in Torghar. The commissioner  said new colleges were being constructed in the district so that higher education could be promoted in the former tribal area.

The commissioner also approved the revenue system for the district.

Local farmers had been cultivating poppy in Torghar which used to be tribal area till last year before becoming the sixth district of Hazara.

This year, poppy was reportedly cultivated over 100 kanals. Some of the land is owned by 11 police officials and levies.

The farmers were served notices by the district administration but it is not yet clear whether they were penalised or whether the crop was destroyed. The farmers had reportedly demanded compensation against the voluntary destruction of poppy crop.

The meeting also approved a state-of-the-art model dairy farm for the district. The commissioner said there would be no restriction on the use of firewood by people from the forest.

Commissioner Hazara Khalid Khan Umerzai chaired the meeting, which was attended by the district coordination officer and the district police officer as well as district heads of all public sector departments.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 16^th, 2012.