Afghanistan Sees 19% Rise in Opium Cultivation Despite Taliban Ban, UN Reports

Despite a Taliban-imposed ban on poppy cultivation in Afghanistan, opium production has risen 19% in 2024, the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) reported. Currently, 12,800 hectares of opium poppies are cultivated, a significant reduction from 232,000 hectares in 2022 before the ban took effect. However, this year’s increase suggests persistent challenges in controlling cultivation.

The UNODC report highlights a geographic shift in cultivation, now concentrated in northeastern provinces rather than the southern Taliban strongholds. Violent clashes over poppy eradication have occurred, notably in Badakhshan, underscoring local resistance and the economic hardship faced by farmers who have historically depended on opium production. While the ban led to a surge in opium prices—stabilizing at around $730 per kilogram compared to $100 in 2022—Afghan farmers continue to struggle financially, with alternative crops offering only limited financial relief.

Given Afghanistan’s economic dependency on agriculture, UNODC and UNAMA are calling for global support to help Afghan farmers transition to sustainable, non-illicit income sources. This approach aligns with the International Crisis Group’s (ICG) recommendation for a broader focus on job creation beyond agriculture to address the socio-economic pressures driving illicit cultivation.