Opium poppy cultivation in Afghanistan saw a rise of 19% y/y in 2024, reaching an estimated 12,800 hectares, according to a new report released by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). This increase marks a sharp contrast to the 95% decrease in cultivation witnessed during the 2023 crop season, when the Taliban's de-facto authorities imposed a strict ban that nearly wiped out opium production across the country.
Despite the 2024 rise, opium cultivation remains dramatically lower compared to 2022, when Afghanistan’s poppy fields spanned an estimated 232,000 hectares. The shift, however, signals growing challenges in maintaining the ban as farmers in some areas seek to reclaim lost income sources.
“The increase in cultivation is a reminder of the challenges facing Afghanistan’s rural communities. However, with opium production still low, there is an opportunity to support Afghan farmers in shifting to sustainable, legal livelihoods,” said Ghada Waly, Executive Director of UNODC.
She emphasized the urgent need for alternative sources of income for Afghan men and women facing economic hardships and humanitarian crises.
The geographical distribution of opium cultivation has also undergone a notable shift. In 2024, the focus of opium production moved from Afghanistan’s south-western provinces, historically the core of the nation’s poppy fields, to the north-eastern provinces. These regions accounted for 59% of the country's total cultivation in 2024, representing an alarming 381% increase over the previous year.
The rise in opium prices, stabilizing at around US $730 per kilogram in the first half of 2024—up from a pre-ban average of US $100—could further incentivize farmers to return to illicit cultivation, especially in areas not traditionally associated with poppy farming, including neighboring countries.
“The reduced levels of opium cultivation are positive news for Afghanistan’s neighbors, the region, and the world,” said Roza Otunbayeva, Special Representative of the Secretary-General and head of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA). "However, we must recognize the immense pressures facing rural communities deprived of a critical income source. These farmers urgently need international support to ensure the sustainability of this transition away from illicit opium production."
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