Opium Production Rises 43% in Afghanistan, UN Monitors Efforts

The United Nations monitors global opium production and supports counter-narcotics efforts in Afghanistan. A report stated that opium production in Afghanistan rose 43%, reaching an estimated 4,800 tons. This production increase was accompanied by 201,000 hectares of land under poppy cultivation, representing a 10% rise in just one year.

The UN has been involved in monitoring the crisis in Afghanistan. The report noted that Afghanistan has been the world’s leading producer of opium, accounting for 80% of the global output over the past decade.