poor families dropped deep wells

[meliss]

Normally people dig deep wells. I don't know what does it mean "to drop a well".
"In the desert, the poor families dropped deep wells to farm on parched soil, good enough for poppy." Source: The American War in Afghanistan by Carter Malkasian

 

[5jj]

It means they dug/sank a well.

 

[probus]

In that part of the world most wells are tube wells. Their diameter is only a few centimeters and they are drilled rather than dug.