Opium poppy cultivation has increased in Afghanistan says the UN Survey 2017. Southern Afghnaistan that borders pakistan has accounted for a steep 60 per cent increase in the area under poppy.
UN survey The total area under opium poppy cultivation in Afghanistan was estimated at 328,000 hectares in 2017, a 63% increase or 127,000 hectares more compared to the previous year. This level of opium poppy cultivation is a new record high since the beginning of the systematic monitoring and exceeds the formerly highest value of 2014 (224,000 hectares) by 104,000 hectares or 46%.
Strong increases were observed in almost all major poppy cultivating provinces. In Hilmand province alone, cultivation increased by 63,745 hectares (+79%) which accounted for about half of the total national increase. Strong increases were observed also in Balkh (+10,031 hectares or almost five times more than in 2016), Kandahar (+7,535 hectares or +37%), Nimroz (+6,163 hectares or +116%), and Uruzgan (+6,038 hectares or +39%).
The regional distribution of opium poppy cultivation shows that the majority (60%) of cultivation took place in the South of the country. The Western region accounted for 17% of total cultivation; the Northern region for 13% and the Eastern region for 7%. The remaining regions (North-Eastern and Central) together accounted for 3%. Hilmand remained the country’s major opium poppy cultivating province at 144,018 hectares, followed by Kandahar (28,010 hectares), Badghis (24,723 hectares), Faryab (22,797 hectares),and Uruzgan (21,541 hectares).
In 2017, the number of poppy-free provinces in Afghanistan decreased from 13 to 10. Opium poppy cultivation in Samangan, in the Northern region, was estimated at 243 hectares and lost its poppy-free status, which it gained 2007. Ghazni and Nuristan also lost their poppy-free status which they had kept since 1995 and 2007, respectively
In the Eastern region, the increase of opium poppy cultivation was mainly driven by the strong increase in Nangarhar (+4,632 hectares or +32%). Strong relative increases albeit at lower levels were also observed in Laghman (+877 hectares or +64%), Kapisa (+360 hectares or +59%) and Kunar (+358 hectares or +28%). Nuristan province lost its poppy-free status with 121 hectares of opium poppy cultivation (Nuristan was poppy-free since 2007). A total of 261 hectares of opium poppy were eradicated in Kapisa, Kunar,
Laghman and Nangarhar provinces in 2017.
In the North-Eastern region, Badakhshan saw a significant increase of 32% in opium poppy cultivation from 6,298 hectares to 8,311 hectares. Eradication in Badakhshan province was 269 hectares in 2017 (270 hectares in 2016).
In the Northern region, strong increases were observed in Jawzjan (+2,828 hectares or +691%), Balkh (+10,031 Hectares or +481%), Sari-Pul (+1,864 hectares or +111%), and Baghlan province (+208 hectares or +24%). Area under cultivation in Faryab increased from 2,923 in 2016 to 22,797 hectares in 2017 which can be mostly attributed to a change in provincial boundaries: the major opium poppy cultivating district Ghormach, formerly part of Badghis province in the Western region came in 2017 under the administration of the Governor of Faryab province.
Samangan province (243 hectares) lost its poppy-free status, which it had since 2007. In the past three years no eradication was carried out in the Northern region with an exception of Sari-Pul (33 hectares in 2015 and 55 hectares in 2016) and Balkh (25 hectares in 2017).
In the Southern region, opium poppy cultivation increased in all provinces: Day-Kundi (+1,134 hectares or +303%), Hilmand (+63,745 hectares or +79%), Zabul (+768 hectares or +56%), Uruzgan (+6,038 hectares or +39%) and Kandahar (+7,535 hectares or 37%). Hilmand remained in 2017 the country’s main opium-poppy-cultivating Province, accounting for 44% of total opium poppy cultivation. There was no eradication carried out in the Southern region with exception of Kandahar, where 48 hectares of opium poppy were eradicated in 2017.
The Western region remained in 2017 the second most important opium poppy cultivating region in the country. The two main poppy-cultivating provinces, Farah and Nimroz, saw significant increases, 41% (+3,745 hectares) and 116% (+6,163 hectares), respectively. Opium poppy cultivation also increased by 431% or 896 hectares in Hirat province in 2017. Levels of opium poppy cultivation in 2017 in Badghis province cannot be compared to 2016, because Ghormach district, a major opium poppy cultivating district, came under the administration of the Governor of Faryab province (Northern region) in 2017.
In 2017, opium poppy cultivation in the Central region was almost four times higher than in 2016, with the total area under cultivation increasing from 398 hectares in 2016 to 1,462 hectares in 2017. Ghazni province with 1,027 hectares under opium poppy cultivation lost its poppy-free status which it held for more than 20 years since 1995. Opium poppy was mainly cultivated in Ajrestan district where the security situation is extremely poor.
In Kabul province opium poppy cultivation was limited to the Uzbeen valley of Surobi district, where security was extremely poor. A total of 27 hectares of opium poppy were eradicated in 2017 in this province. The Eastern region experienced a 36% increase in opium poppy cultivation from 17,608 hectares in 2016 to 23,956 hectares in 2017. In 2017, 261 hectares were eradicateIn 2017, opium poppy cultivation in Nangarhar increased by 32% from 14,344 hectares in 2016 to 18,976 hectares in all main opium poppy cultivating districts: Khugyani, Chaprahar, Batikot, Darah-i- Noor, Hesark, Lalpoor, Mohmand Dara, Rodat, Shinwari and Sherzad.
In Laghman province, opium poppy cultivation increased by 64% from 1,380 hectares in 2016 to 2,257 hectares in 2017. At the district level, increases were observed in all opium poppy cultivating districts (Alingar, Alishang, Dowlat Shah, Mehterlam and Qarghayee).
In Kunar province, opium poppy cultivation increased by 28% from 1,276 hectares in 2016 to 1,634 hectares in 2017. The main opium poppy cultivating districts were Sarkani, Noor Gal, Shigal Wa Sheltan, Watapoor and Dangam. Opium poppy cultivation in Kapisa province increased by 59%, from 608 hectares in 2016 to 968 hectares in 2017. Tagab and Alasai were the main opium-poppy-cultivating districts.
Nuristan province was poppy-free from 2007 to 2016 but the province lost its poppy-free status in 2017 with 121 hectares of opium poppy cultivation in Noor Gram and Mandol districts.
In Baghlan province, opium poppy cultivation increased from 849 hectares in 2016 to 1,057 hectares in 2017. The main opium-poppy-cultivating districts were Deh Salah, Pul-i-Hisar, Andrab and Khwajah Hijran (Jalgah). In 2017, opium poppy cultivation in Balkh increased almost sixfold from 2,085 hectares to 12,116 hectares. Until 2014, Balkh was poppy-free; it lost this status in 2015 with 204 hectares of opium poppy cultivation. In 2017 opium poppy was mainly cultivated in Chimtal, Chahar Bolak and Balkh districts.
In 2017, opium poppy cultivation in the Central region was almost four times higher than in 2016, with the total area under cultivation increasing from 398 hectares in 2016 to 1,462 hectares in 2017. Ghazni province with 1,027 hectares under opium poppy cultivation lost its poppy-free status which it held for more than 20 years since 1995. Opium poppy was mainly cultivated in Ajrestan district where the security situation is extremely poor.
Faryab was poppy-free in 2009, 2010 and 2012, but lost its poppy-free status in 2013. Since then the province area under opium poppy cultivation continuously expanded. In 2014, 211 hectares were cultivated, in 2015 1,160 hectares and in 2016 2,923 hectares. In 2017, opium poppy cultivation in Faryab province was estimated at 22,797 hectares, however this value is not directly comparable to last year’s estimate, because Ghormach district, formerly part of Badghis province and a major opium poppy cultivating district, came in 2017 under the administration of Faryab province.
In 2017, Samangan lost its poppy-free status, which it held since 2007, with 243 hectares of opium poppy cultivation. Darah-i-Soof-i-Bala and Darah-i-Soof-i-Payin were the main opium poppy cultivating districts.
Bamyan has been poppy-free since 2007 and remained so in 2017. Sari-Pul province was poppy-free from 2008 to 2013. The province lost its poppy-free status in 2014 with 195 hectares of opium poppy cultivation. In 2015, opium poppy cultivation increased to 331 hectares, in 2016 to 1,686 hectares and in 2017 to 3,550 hectares. The main opium cultivating districts were Sayyad and Sari-Pul provincial center.
Jawzjan province was poppy-free from 2008 to 2015, but lost its poppy-free status in 2016 with 409 hectares of opium poppy cultivation. In 2017, levels of cultivation further increased to 3,237 hectares, which was almost eight times more than in 2016.
The only opium poppy cultivating province in the North eastern region was Badakhshan province as the two other provinces, Kunduz and Takhar were poppy-free.
Opium poppy cultivation in Badakhshan increased by 32% from 6,298 in 2016 to 8,311 hectares in 2017 and was mostly confined to rain-fed areas cultivated in spring, mainly in Argo, Darayim and Kishim districts. A total of 269 hectares of opium poppy were eradicated in Badakhshan province in 2017.
Kunduz province has been poppy-free since 2007 and is well known for growing a wide range of licit crops, from fruit and vegetables to cotton. An insignificant amount of cultivation was observed in this province in recent years. It remained under 100 hectares in 2017, the threshold for obtaining the poppy-free status.
Takhar province was poppy-free since 2008, and it maintained its poppy-free status in 2017. However, small amounts of cultivation below the threshold of 100 hectares were observed in this province. A total of 15 hectares were eradicated in 2017.
Hilmand province experienced the significant increase of 79% in opium poppy cultivation and remained Afghanistan’s single largest opium-poppy-cultivating province in 2017. Hilmand accounted for 44% of the total area under opium poppy cultivation in Afghanistan and for almost half of the total national increase between 2016 and 2017. In 2017, no Governor-led eradication was carried out (like in 2016) in this province.
At the district level, opium poppy cultivation levels were highest in Nad Ali, Naher-i-Saraj, Nawzad, Kajaki, Musa Qala, Garmser, Regi-i-Khan Nishin, Dishu, Sangin Qala, Lashkargah, Washer, Baghran and Nawa-e-Barakzaiy districts. Increases in opium poppy cultivation were observed in all districts except for Baghran in the north of Hilmand.
Between 2009 and 2012, an alternative livelihood programme took place in central Hilmand (the so-called “Hilmand Food Zone”; see map). In 2013, MCN/UNODC started to produce annual Inside the former Food Zone, opium poppy cultivation increased by 90% from 34,760 hectares in 2016 to 66,181 hectares in 2017, outside of the former Food Zone it increased by 71% (from 45,513 hectares in 2016 to 77,837 hectares). Overall, 33% of the agricultural land was under opium poppy cultivation in Hilmand, 31% inside of the area of the former Food Zone, 35% outside of the area of the former Food Zone.
In Kandahar province, opium poppy cultivation increased by 37% from 20,475 hectares in 2016 to 28,010 hectares in 2017. The main opium poppy cultivation districts were Maiwand, Zhire, Nesh, Spin Boldak and Panjwayee. In Uruzgan province opium poppy cultivation increased by 39% from 15,503 hectares in 2016 to 21,541 hectares in 2017. Tirin, Kot, Dihrawud and Shahidi, Hassas were the main opium poppy-cultivating districts. Opium poppy cultivation in Zabul province also saw a significant increase by 56% from 1,363 in 2016 to 2,131 hectares in 2017. The main opium-poppy-cultivating districts in Zabul were Tarank Wa Jaldak and Mizan, where security was poor
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In the Western region, Farah province increased by 41% from 9,101 hectares in 2016 to 12,846 hectares in 2017. The main opium-poppy-cultivating districts in Farah, were Bala Buluk, Bakwah, Khak-i-Safed, Pusht-Rod and Gulistan where security was very poor . In 2017, opium poppy cultivation in Ghor, poppy-free in 2011, increased more than 3 times when compared to 2016: from 1,222 hectares to 4,228 hectares. The main opium cultivating districts were Ghaghcharan, Pasaband and Taywara.
In Hirat province, the level of opium poppy cultivation increased more than 5 times when compared to 2016, from 208 hectares to 1,104 hectares. The main opium poppy cultivating districts in Hirat province were Shindand and Kushk (Rabat-i-Sangi), where security was very poor. In 2017, the level of opium poppy cultivation in Nimroz province (11,466 hectares) more than doubled since 2016 (5,303 hectares). The main poppy cultivating districts were Khash-Rod and Chahar Burjak.
The levels of opium poppy cultivation in 2016 and 2017 in Badghis province are not comparable due to changes in the administrative boundaries. Ghormach district, formerly part of Badghis province and a major opium poppy cultivating district, came in 2017 under the administration of the Governor of Faryab province. In 2017, a total 106 hectares of Governor-led eradication was carried out in Badghis (55 hectares), Ghor (14 hectares), Hirat (23 hectares) and Nimroz (14 hectares).