The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) says a new survey conducted in three Afghan provinces shows that the vast majority of families affected by the ban on opium poppy cultivation have not been able to secure sustainable alternative sources of income.
In a statement released on Monday (December 29), UNODC said the survey, carried out in Badakhshan, Balkh and Kunduz, found that 85 percent of households have failed to access viable alternative livelihoods following the Taliban’s ban on poppy cultivation. Despite this, compliance with the ban remains high in the surveyed areas.
According to the findings, only 15 percent of families reported being able to fully compensate for their income losses through alternative crops or activities.
UNODC noted that although its 2025 report indicates an increase in poppy cultivation in Badakhshan, 95 percent of farmers in Badakhshan and Balkh said they had stopped growing poppy. The survey shows that cereals—particularly wheat—have become the dominant substitute crop, with more than 90 percent of respondents identifying wheat as their main alternative.
Satellite imagery analysis by UNODC also confirms that farmers have largely shifted from poppy cultivation to cereals, including wheat, since the ban was imposed.
However, the agency warned that wheat is a low-value crop compared to opium. In 2023, the average income per hectare of wheat was just $770, while a hectare of poppy generated around $10,000, highlighting a stark income gap for rural households.
UNODC said the loss of income has intensified financial stress in rural communities, undermining household resilience. The agency also pointed to climate change and water shortages as additional and growing threats to farmers’ livelihoods.
Oliver Stolpe, UNODC’s Regional Representative, said the decline in income is having effects that extend beyond individual households, undermining rural purchasing power, slowing local economic activity and increasing communities’ exposure to poverty and food insecurity.
Stolpe added that alternative crops have so far failed to provide returns comparable to opium, underscoring “the urgent need for comprehensive alternative development strategies.”
UNODC called for a coordinated, long-term approach to sustainable alternatives to poppy cultivation in Afghanistan. It emphasized promoting high-value, locally suitable crops and ensuring that poppy eradication efforts are aligned with credible development options.
The agency also stressed the importance of strengthening rural development through improved irrigation systems, better access to finance and markets, job creation, and practical skills training. It further highlighted the need for stronger coordination between Taliban authorities, local officials, increased international support, and private sector engagement to achieve lasting, community-based change.
The Taliban banned poppy cultivation, as well as the production, sale and trafficking of narcotics, in April 2022. Despite the ban, opium cultivation has continued in parts of the country in subsequent years.
The United Nations says identifying realistic and sustainable alternatives for farmers remains essential to ensuring they can meet their basic financial needs and avoid falling deeper into poverty.
