Bayan News – The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) reported on Wednesday, November 27, that opium production in Afghanistan has increased by 30% this year.
In its latest report on the drug situation in Afghanistan, the UNODC stated that opium production in 2024 has risen by 30% compared to 2023.
According to the report, however, the level of opium production remains low compared to 2022, especially after the Taliban leader issued a decree banning opium cultivation.
The UN report shows that opium production in 2024 has reached 433 tons (a 30% increase in terms of production volume), and 12,800 hectares were used this year for opium cultivation in Afghanistan, representing a 19% increase in land used for opium cultivation compared to 2023.
Furthermore, the value derived from opium in 2024 has reached 260 million U.S. dollars, a 130% increase from the previous year.
Ghada Waly, Executive Director of the UNODC, said: “International efforts must be coordinated to ensure that this reduction is not replaced by the production of other dangerous synthetic drugs like methamphetamine, either inside Afghanistan or in the region.”
She also added: “We must help rural communities dependent on opium poppy cultivation to shift to legal and economic alternatives through investment in infrastructure, agricultural resources, and sustainable livelihoods.”
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