...a lucrative dumping ground for the relatives of dictators and party hacks...
Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) reported a 19% increase in cultivation in 2024 compared to the previous year. The Taliban
...Arabic for students...
has reportedly struggled to enforce the ban effectively.
The report reveals that in 2023, poppy cultivation covered approximately 10,800 hectares. This figure rose to 12,800 hectares in 2024, reflecting an expansion despite ongoing restrictions.
Released on Wednesday, the UNODC report noted a particular rise in poppy cultivation in northeastern Afghanistan. Additionally, the price of dry opium has reached around $730 per kilogram, indicating a profitable illegal market.
The UN findings highlighted a geographic shift in cultivation patterns. While southwestern provinces were the traditional hub until 2023, northeastern regions now account for 59% of poppy cultivation in 2024.
This shift represents a 381% increase in poppy farming in these northeastern provinces since 2023. Efforts to eradicate poppy crops have been met with resistance; the Taliban faced protests, particularly in Badakhshan, where
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