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Opium poppy cultivation in Afghanistan has increased significantly

The area sown with opium poppy in Afghanistan increased more than fourfold in 2026 despite the cultivation ban imposed by the Taliban movement. This follows from a report by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime. Deutschlandfunk ↗

According to UNODC data, the area of poppy fields reached approximately 43,000 hectares. In the previous year, it stood at 10,000 hectares. The United Nations thus recorded a significant resurgence in the cultivation of the crop from which opium is produced. teraz.sk ↗

Opium production initially dropped sharply after the Taliban introduced the ban. However, the latest data show that the restriction failed to prevent the renewed expansion of poppy cultivation in the country. Afghanistan has long been one of the most significant producers of opium in the world. Tagesspiegel ↗

The increase relates to a period during which the ban is formally still in force. The United Nations' information points to persistent problems with its enforcement and to the economic conditions that influence farmers' decisions. svet.sme.sk ↗

Further developments will depend on whether the Taliban can enforce the ban in practice and whether it provides farmers with viable alternatives to poppy cultivation. The UN will continue to monitor the development of production in Afghanistan.

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Geographic locations

Location: Afghanistan
افغانستان
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Location: Taliban
Taliban, Annapurna, कास्की, गण्डकी प्रदेश, 33711, नेपाल
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World Politics 📍 afganistan 📍 taliban 🏢 organizácia spojených národov 🏢 talibanom 🏢 úradu organizácie spojených národov pre
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