Opium poppy cultivation in Afghanistan quadrupled despite the Taliban ban — UN
According to UNODC, opium poppy cultivation areas in Afghanistan reached 43,000 hectares in 2026, up from 10,000 in 2025, while opium production grew fivefold to 1,500 tonnes. Farmers cite poverty and the lack of alternative incomes as the reason.
Otabek Yusupov