Afghanistan’s opium crop falls 20 percent as synthetic drugs surge
Summary
A UN report shows that Afghanistan's opium crop shrank by 20% in 2025 due to a Taliban ban on poppy cultivation. At the same time, synthetic drug production, like methamphetamine, is on the rise. The UN urges support for Afghan farmers to find alternative livelihoods.Key Facts
- Afghanistan's opium cultivation area decreased from 12,800 to 10,200 hectares in 2025.
- Before the Taliban ban, Afghanistan was the world's largest opium producer, supplying 74% of global opium in 2013.
- In 2024, Afghanistan's opium production was estimated at 296 tonnes, falling behind Myanmar.
- Farmer revenues dropped by 48% to about $134 million in 2025.
- Despite production drop, opium prices are nearly five times higher than before the ban.
- Afghanistan's poppy fields have moved to the northeastern province of Badakhshan.
- Synthetic drug seizures increased by 50% in Afghanistan and nearby countries in late 2024.
- The UN calls for international support to help Afghan farmers switch to other forms of income.
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