by Elizabeth Hart
This spring farmers throughout Afghanistan, who would otherwise be preparing their fields for another poppy crop, have chosen to plant pomegranate trees instead. With the help of the UK charity Pom354 and the support of local tribal leaders, these farmers will replant their fields, build storage facilities to preserve the fruit throughout the season, and work together to find the best ways to process and market their product.
Opium poppies are largely grown to supply the world with heroin, and the production and exportation of heroin from Afghanistan is one reason for the excessive presence of foreign military in the region. Pom354 founder James Brett started the organization with a vision to empower rural farmers to create peace in their communities by reducing the supply of heroin, engaging in legitimate commerce, and freeing themselves and their families from the extortion and intimidation inherent in the drug trade.
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