UN: Due to the ban on the cultivation of opium poppies in Afghanistan, the supply has dropped by 95 percent

A sharp decline could have major consequences for the economy in a country where about two-thirds of the population is already in need of humanitarian aid, according to the report, Reuters reports.

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Illustration, Photo: Shutterstock
Illustration, Photo: Shutterstock
Disclaimer: The translations are mostly done through AI translator and might not be 100% accurate.

Opium poppy production in Afghanistan, once the world's largest supplier, has fallen sharply since the Taliban banned cultivation last year, according to a United Nations (UN) report.

The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) said opium cultivation fell nationwide to just 10.800 hectares in 2023 from 233.000 hectares the previous year, reducing supply by 95 percent to 333 tons.

According to UNODC, this measure hit farmers in this war-torn country, where most people depend on agriculture, and the value of poppy exports used to be higher than the value of all officially exported goods.

A sharp decline could have major consequences for the economy in a country where about two-thirds of the population already needs humanitarian aid, according to the report, Reuters reports.

"In the coming months, Afghanistan desperately needs strong investments in sustainable livelihoods to provide opportunities for Afghan farmers away from opium," said UNODC Executive Director Gada Vali.

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