Situation in Afghanistan: Opium cultivation and heroin production

In 2023 opium poppy cultivation and opium production dramatically declined in Afghanistan after a ban was announced by the de-facto authorities (DfA) in April 2022. Nationally, the area under poppy cultivation declined by 95% to a total of just 10,800 hectares, indicating that farmers were adhering to this ban. Consequently, this has significantly reduced the supply of opium and export quality heroin from Afghanistan to markets in the region and globally.

These developments have significant consequences for Afghanistan, including immediate humanitarian consequences for vulnerable rural communities, and the international community.