World
(2009-08-14)
SEDALIA, MO
(KBIA) -
An Afghan agriculture director says poppy production has been virtually eliminated in his province with the help of Missouri National Guard units. Nangarhar Province agriculture director Safi Mohammad Hussein spoke today at the Missouri State Fair on the first day of a one-week visit to Missouri. Safi praised the National Guard's Agriculture Development Team, which has sent soldiers to his province to teach new agricultural production techniques. The Guard units have helped build irrigation systems and distributed wheat seed to farmers, among other things. Safi says wheat production has increased about 25 percent over last year in his province. Opium remains one of the biggest issues facing other parts of the country. Afghanistan supplies 93 percent of the world's opium.
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