Afghan opium cultivation bouncing back amid Taliban clampdown

Wed Nov 06 07:44:30 UTC 2024: ## Afghan Opium Poppy Cultivation Rises, But Remains Significantly Lower Than Pre-Ban Levels

**Kabul, Afghanistan** – Despite a Taliban-imposed ban on opium poppy cultivation, the country saw a 19% increase in poppy farming in 2024, according to a new report by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).

While this rise marks a reversal of the significant drop in cultivation observed in 2023, the total area under poppy cultivation remains far below pre-ban levels, at just 12,800 hectares compared to 232,000 hectares in 2022. The ban, implemented in April 2022, resulted in a 95% decrease in opium farming the following year.

“This is important further evidence that opium cultivation has indeed been reduced,” stated Roza Otunbayeva, Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan. “This will be welcomed by Afghanistan’s neighbours, the region and the world.”

The report highlights a shift in poppy cultivation from the traditional southwest heartland to northeastern provinces, where production surged by 381% in 2024. Badakhshan province, in particular, saw the most significant increase.

Despite the ban, the report acknowledges that opium prices have risen significantly, reaching $730 per kg, up from pre-ban averages of around $100. This price increase, coupled with the lack of alternative income opportunities for struggling Afghan farmers, has kept poppy cultivation an attractive option.

Otunbayeva stressed the need for international support to help rural communities transition away from opium dependence and find sustainable income sources. “They desperately need international support if we want this transition to be sustainable,” she said.

The International Crisis Group, an independent think tank, also emphasizes the importance of job creation in non-farm industries, highlighting that even legal crops offer only a short-term solution.

The UNODC’s Director Ghada Waly underscored the opportunity to help Afghan farmers find sustainable income sources free from illicit markets, stating, “With opium cultivation remaining at a low level in Afghanistan, we have the opportunity and responsibility to support Afghan farmers to develop sustainable sources of income free from illicit markets.”