According to a new report from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) published on Thursday, This year, 10,200 hectares of opium were cultivated, compared to 12,800 hectares in 2024 and well below the 232,000 hectares recorded before the ban..
Production of the drug fell even more sharply, falling by almost a third to 296 tonnes, and farmers’ income from opium sales fell by almost half during the period.
In the report, UNODC highlights the need to combine eradication efforts with support for alternative livelihoods and demand reduction measures.
While many farmers have turned to cereals and other crops, worsening drought and low rainfall have left more than 40 percent of agricultural land barren.
At the same time, the return of around four million Afghans from neighboring countries has increased pressure on jobs and resources, raising concerns that economic difficulties could make illicit crops attractive again.
With the support of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), Zahoor and thousands of other Afghan farmers have switched from opium to legal cultivation, turning the land into a source of hope and sustainable income. This is also helping to make the world safer from drugs.
Growth of the synthetic drug market
Meanwhile, the production of synthetic drugs, particularly methamphetamine, is increasing, and seizures in and around Afghanistan were 50 percent higher at the end of 2024 compared to the previous year.
The UNODC warns that organized crime groups may increasingly favor synthetic drugs, which are easier to produce, harder to detect and less vulnerable to climate crises.
Georgette Gagnon, Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Afghanistan and Officer-in-Charge of the UN political mission in the country (UNAMA), says the problem extends beyond Afghanistan’s borders:
“The dynamics of supply, demand and trafficking involve both Afghan and international actors.. Addressing this challenge requires collaboration between key stakeholders.”
The report calls for counternarcotics strategies that go beyond opium, integrating synthetic drugs into surveillance, interdiction and prevention efforts.
