The latest UNODC report highlights a 19% increase in opium poppy cultivation in Afghanistan during 2024, despite a Taliban-imposed ban significantly reducing pre-ban levels.
Despite a 95% drop in opium farming post-2022 ban, cultivation areas have shifted significantly to northeastern provinces, particularly Badakhshan, where production surged 381%.
Rural Afghan communities are urged for international support, as the ban on opium has led to economic hardship, largely due to the high opium prices attracting cultivation.
The price of opium has stabilized at around $730 per kg, which is much higher than pre-ban levels, thus making poppy cultivation enticing for struggling Afghan farmers.
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