The United Nations stated on Monday that farmers in northern Afghanistan have still not recovered their income losses since the Taliban government banned poppy cultivation three years ago.
The UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) said the ban has slashed this year’s poppy cultivation area to just 10,200 hectares (25,200 acres), «one of the lowest levels ever recorded in Afghanistan.»
However, this has also shifted cultivation from traditional southern growing areas to northern provinces farther from Taliban control.
In Badakhshan province, bordering Tajikistan, which was surveyed in the latest UNODC report, poppy production has increased significantly since the Taliban regained power in 2021.
The report found that in that province and neighboring Kunduz and Balkh provinces, «on average, 85% of households… stated that their income was either not compensated or only partially compensated after abandoning poppy cultivation.»
Many farmers have switched to growing wheat and other grains, but in 2023 «the average per-hectare income from wheat was only $770, compared to an estimated $10,000 per hectare from poppy.»
«The impact of this income loss goes far beyond the household level, weakening purchasing power in rural areas, reducing local economic activity, and increasing overall community poverty and food insecurity,» stated the UNODC regional representative.
The agency urged greater efforts to encourage the cultivation of high-value crops like saffron, nuts, vanilla, and fruits such as apricots and grapes, which are better suited to the arid and high-altitude climate.
Before the Taliban regained power in 2021, poppy revenue was a major source of Afghanistan’s economic output.
The UN reported last month that this year’s opium production, the main ingredient for heroin, is estimated at 296 tons, a 32% decrease from the previous year.
Farmers’ income from opium sales nearly halved, dropping from $260 million in 2024 to $134 million this year.
A deputy minister for counter-narcotics in the Afghan government welcomed the UN findings, saying they «importantly reflect the reality of farmers’ situations and the real challenges they face.»
In a response included with the UN findings, the Afghan government stated it would pursue policies aimed at «achieving sustainable rural development and reducing dependence on drug crop cultivation.»
Badakhshan province
Badakhshan is a mountainous province in northeastern Afghanistan, historically renowned as a key hub along the ancient Silk Road. It is famed for its rich deposits of lapis lazuli, mined for over 6,000 years, and has a distinct cultural heritage shaped by its remote Pamir landscapes and predominantly Ismaili Muslim population.
Tajikistan
Tajikistan is a Central Asian nation known for its rugged, mountainous terrain, with the Pamir and Alay ranges dominating its landscape. Historically, it was a key part of the ancient Silk Road and was later incorporated into the Persian Samanid Empire, before becoming a republic within the Soviet Union until its independence in 1991. Today, its culture reflects a blend of Persian influences and Soviet-era legacy, with Persian (Tajik) being the primary language.
Kunduz
Kunduz is a major city in northern Afghanistan, historically significant as a strategic trade and cultural hub along the Silk Road. It has a long history of various empires and conflicts, including recent heavy fighting during the war in Afghanistan, which has severely damaged much of its ancient heritage.
Balkh
Balkh, located in northern Afghanistan, is one of the world’s oldest cities and was a major center of Zoroastrianism and later a hub of Buddhist and Islamic learning. Historically known as Bactra, it flourished along the Silk Road and is often called the «Mother of Cities» due to its ancient origins. Though largely in ruins today, its legacy as a cultural and religious crossroads persists.
United Nations
The United Nations (UN) is an international organization founded in 1945 after World War II to promote peace, security, and cooperation among nations. Headquartered in New York City, it replaced the failed League of Nations and now has 193 member states working on global issues like human rights, development, and humanitarian aid.
UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC)
The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) is a global leader in the fight against illicit drugs, organized crime, corruption, and terrorism. Established in 1997 through the merger of the UN Drug Control Programme and the Centre for International Crime Prevention, it assists member states in implementing international treaties and strengthening their legal and health frameworks. Its work is guided by three key conventions on drug control and the UN Convention against Transnational Organized Crime.
Taliban
The Taliban is a fundamentalist political and military movement that emerged in Afghanistan in the early 1990s following the Soviet-Afghan War. It ruled most of the country from 1996 to 2001, imposing a strict interpretation of Islamic law, and regained control of Afghanistan in 2021 following the withdrawal of U.S.-led forces. It is not a cultural site or place, but a governing entity with a complex and often contentious history and impact on Afghan society.
Afghanistan
Afghanistan is a landlocked country in Central and South Asia with a history spanning over 5,000 years, having been a crossroads for ancient trade routes and empires like the Persian, Greek, Buddhist, and Islamic. Culturally, it is renowned for sites such as the Minaret of Jam and the Buddhas of Bamiyan (partially destroyed in 2001), which reflect its diverse historical layers. In recent decades, the country has faced significant conflict and instability, deeply impacting its cultural heritage and society.
