Opium cultivation down by 95% in Afghanistan: UN data

ISTANBUL

Opium cultivation in Afghanistan has declined by 95%, according to data released by the UN.

In a survey conducted this year, the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) said the opium poppy cultivation in Afghanistan plunged by an estimated 95% following a drug ban imposed by the Taliban authorities in April last year.

A statement released from the Vienna office of UNODC said the UN officials noted that the near-total contraction of the opiate economy is “expected to have far-reaching consequences.”

The official highlighted the urgent need for enhanced assistance for rural communities, accompanied by alternative development support to build an opium-free future for the people of Afghanistan.

According to the UNODC data, opium cultivation fell from 233,000 hectares to just 10,800 hectares in 2023.

“The decrease has led to a corresponding 95% drop in the supply of opium, from 6,200 tons in 2022 to just 333 tons in 2023,” it added.

However, it said the income of the farmers selling fell by more than 92% from an estimated $1,360 million for the 2022 harvest to $110 million in 2023.

“This presents a real opportunity to build towards long-term results against the illicit opium market and the damage it causes both locally and globally,” said Ghada Waly, executive director of UNODC.

“Today, Afghanistan’s people need urgent humanitarian assistance to meet their most immediate needs, to absorb the shock of lost income and to save lives,” Waly said.

“And over the coming months, Afghanistan is in dire need of strong investment in sustainable livelihoods, to provide Afghan farmers with opportunities away from opium,” she added.