Afghanistan: Opium Poppy Cultivation Surges Despite Taliban Ban

• Opium poppy cultivation in Afghanistan surged despite a Taliban ban, according to the UN.
• In 2022, the Taliban's crackdown reduced cultivated areas from over 200,000 hectares to 10,000 hectares.
• Afghan farmers report they can't feed their children due to the ban on poppy cultivation.
• The UN reported a significant increase in opium poppy cultivation in 2025.
• The Taliban's ban has not achieved its intended effect of reducing poppy cultivation.