Afghanistan, Oct. 29 -- Afghanistan's opium production surged nearly fivefold in 2026, with cultivation expanding sharply despite the Taliban authorities' narcotics ban, according to a new United Nations survey.
The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) reported on Thursday, October 29, that opium poppy cultivation increased by 330 percent year-on-year to more than 43,000 hectares, while production rose by 400 percent to nearly 1,500 tonnes. The figures mark the first significant increase since the ban was enforced in 2022.
The survey found that cultivation expanded from about 10,000 hectares in 2025, while estimated production rose from approximately 300 tonnes. Despite the sharp increase, both figures remain below levels reco...