Opium production in Afghanistan reached 433 tons in 2024, marking a 30% increase from 2023 but remaining 93% below 2022 levels, according to the recent report published by UNODC. Maintaining such low levels of opium cultivation and production for two consecutive years is unprecedented in Afghanistan, attributed to the nationwide drug ban enforced in 2022 by the De facto Authorities in that country.
UNODC’s opium cultivation figures indicate a 19% year-on-year increase, with cultivation in 2024 covering 12,800 hectares—still far below pre-ban levels. The 2024 opium harvest is valued at $260 million, reflecting a 130% increase compared to 2023 but remaining 80% lower than in 2022.
“A second year of low opium cultivation and production presents opportunities and complex challenges,” said Ghada Waly, UNODC Executive Director. She emphasized the need for coordinated international action to prevent a shift to synthetic drug production and to support rural communities in transitioning to sustainable, lawful livelihoods through investments in infrastructure, agricultural resources, and economic alternatives.
In 2024, farmers increasingly cultivated alternative crops such as cereals and, to a lesser extent, cash crops like cotton on previously fallow land. However, climatic challenges and the economic disparity between poppy cultivation and legal crops persist, as opium still generates up to 60 times more revenue than wheat or other cereals.
The continued eradication of opium poppy in Afghanistan raises concerns about a potential rise in illicit cultivation in other neighboring countries to meet global demand. Additionally, the lack of viable licit alternatives for Afghan farmers may have driven an increase in the production of other illicit substances, such as synthetic drugs.
The traditional geographical focus of opium cultivation and production has also shifted, with two-thirds now concentrated in Northeastern provinces, particularly in Badakhshan. This evolving landscape underscores the need for sustainable economic solutions to prevent the return of illicit cultivation and mitigate broader regional impacts.
