UN reports that opium poppy cultivation in Afghanistan sharply increases despite a Taliban government ban. Multiple outlets say the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) finds the cultivated area and estimated production rise over the past year, alongside warnings that impoverished farmers face limited alternatives.
Reports cite figures indicating cultivation reaches about 43,000 hectares in 2026, up from about 10,000 hectares in 2025, and that estimated opium production rises from roughly 300 tonnes to about 1,500 tonnes. Outlets also provide context that Afghanistan has historically led global poppy production, but that Myanmar became the top producer after a 2022 Taliban crackdown.
Coverage highlights enforcement and detection challenges. One outlet notes Taliban authorities claim they destroyed large areas, while UNODC says plots can be hidden among cereal crops or behind walls, making eradication harder. Several stories also emphasize farmer pressure from poverty and the crop’s profitability, with reporting that some growers resume cultivation out of economic need.
