In Afghanistan, opium cultivation has increased by a third since the beginning of this year. According to the UN report, the country now has 233,000 hectares of poppy growing area. Although the ruling Taliban banned cultivation in April, there are still exceptions for this year’s crop.
Opium is made from poppy, which in turn forms the basis for the drug heroin. According to UN figures, Afghanistan has a near monopoly on opium cultivation with 80 to 90 percent of world production. According to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) report, the acreage has grown to 233,000 hectares since the beginning of the year. This is the third largest area since the surveys began in 1994.
Higher price
The ruling Taliban had already banned the cultivation in 2000 and after they returned to power in April 2022. This time they allowed big exceptions for the current year’s crop, which, according to UNODC, pushed up the price of opium. Compared to 2021, revenues have increased this year from 425 million to 1.4 billion dollars (equivalent to about 1.41 billion euros).
Ten percent lower crop yields due to drought did not stop this development. Although the Taliban have banned opium cultivation, experts say they are thwarting efforts by the United States and other NATO countries. While the latter have financially rewarded farmers over the past two decades for growing other crops such as wheat or saffron, the Taliban themselves controlled key opium areas and pocketed the proceeds.
According to the report, Afghan farmers will have to decide in early November whether and to what extent they will continue to use opium.
Source: Krone
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
