UNODC Warns of Poppy Cultivation Risks Without Financial Diversification in Afghanistan
KABUL (Afghan Verified) -- The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) stated that preventing a widespread return to poppy cultivation in Afghanistan requires diversifying financial resources beyond foreign aid.
In a report released on Sunday, February 15, 2026, UNODC warned that without sustainable income sources, farmers and rural families may revert to poppy cultivation. Low-income families, the report noted, consider opium when legal crop incomes are significantly lower than poppy yields.
Poppy cultivation in 2025 decreased by about 20% compared to the previous year, according to the report. However, poppy prices and profits remain high, far exceeding earnings from alternatives like wheat or cotton.
UNODC highlighted additional risks from economic and environmental factors, including drought and limited arable land. The return of millions of Afghan citizens from neighboring countries has intensified pressure on the labor market and incomes, heightening the danger of renewed poppy farming.
The report emphasized the need for private sector development and alternative livelihoods to sustain the decline in cultivation.
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