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Afghanistan opium poppy cultivation surges despite Taliban govt ban: UN
UNODC said cultivation climbed to 43,300 hectares and opium production rose fivefold as farmers said legal crops no longer covered basic costs.
- On Thursday, the United Nations reported that Afghanistan's opium poppy cultivation more than quadrupled in 2026, reaching 43,000 hectares despite a Taliban government ban, with production jumping fivefold to 1,500 tonnes.
- UNODC Executive Director Monica Juma noted the increase reveals poverty's grip on farmers; one hectare of poppy generates $10,000 compared to just over $770 for wheat, making alternatives economically unviable.
- Farmers like 22-year-old Mohammad told AFP, "Without opium, we cannot even afford basic food," while UNODC estimates only 10 percent of the required $500 million for alternative development has been funded.
- Clashes erupted in May as Afghan security forces moved to destroy opium fields in Badakhshan, killing two people, though Taliban authorities claim to have destroyed more than 22,000 hectares.
- UNODC Country Representative for Afghanistan Polleak Ok Serei called for a "drug demand reduction strategy, not only in Afghanistan but also outside of Afghanistan," citing Thailand's 15-year alternative livelihood investment as essential.
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The Taliban rejected the findings of the UN report The post Afghanistan: Increase in poppy areas for opium production despite the Taliban ban appeared first on in.gr.
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Taliban’s poppy ban falters as Afghan farmers say they can’t feed their children - Regional Media News
By Mohammad Yunus Yawar , Sayed Hassib and Ahmad Masih Noori BABA YUSUF, Afghanistan, Oct 29 (Reuters) - Carpets still hang on the walls of Mohammad Dawood's home in a northern Afghanistan village, and ornate mirrors still catch the light, relics of the years when [...]
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Total News Sources44
Leaning Left10Leaning Right5Center7Last UpdatedBias Distribution45% Left
Bias Distribution
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45% Left
L 45%
C 32%
R 23%
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