Dramatic surge in Afghan opium production

Poor security has led to a 43% rise in production of the illicit crop from 2015, with 4,800 tonnes produced this year, according to the UN

REGIONAL OPIUM POPPY CULTIVATIONAND PRODUCTION CHANGE,AFGHANISTAN, 2015-16

Tonnes

PRODUCTION CHANGE

Western

Southern

Northern

Kabul

Central

North-eastern

Eastern

CULTIVATION Hectares

OPIUM POPPY CULTIVATION 1994-2016

Hectares, 000s

2001: Fall of Taliban

Afghanistan produces about 90% of world’s illicit opium

2012: Foreign forces begin to withdraw

Authorities have been able to destroy only 355 hectares of opium poppies in 2016 compared to 3,760 hectares in 2015 – 91% decrease

Sources: UNODC, wire agencies

Picture: Getty Images