Opium farming in Afghanistan has dropped significantly following a ban imposed by the Taliban government in 2022, the United Nations reported.
The total area of land for growing opium poppy shrank by 20% since last year, while the amount of opium produced has fallen by 32% during the same period, according to the UN's Office on Drugs and Crime.
Before the ban, Afghanistan produced over 80% of the world’s opium, with heroin from Afghan opium accounting for 95% of the European market.
The Taliban, who regained power in August 2021, issued the ban in April 2022, citing health concerns and religious beliefs. Despite severe economic challenges, many farmers have adhered to the ban.
Farmers are now growing cereals, although the lucrative poppy crop remains tempting due to its profitability. According to the UNODC, over 40% of farmland has been left barren due to a lack of financially viable alternatives and adverse climate conditions.
Current opium cultivation stands at about 10,200 hectares, compared to more than 200,000 hectares before the Taliban imposed the ban.
The UNODC noted that four provinces that previously grew opium are now declared opium poppy-free, highlighting the impact of the Taliban's ban.
However, resistance from farmers remains evident, as many continue to cultivate opium in secret due to limited options for survival. Reports indicate increasing violence between farmers and authorities over the destruction of poppy fields, particularly in Badakhshan province.
While opium production has decreased, the UNODC warns of a troubling rise in the trafficking of synthetic drugs like methamphetamine, which are easier to produce and less vulnerable to environmental factors.
Farmers like one from Helmand province express the dire choice they face: comply with the ban and risk poverty or violate it and face jail time.
