In 2024, Afghanistan is facing a second year of the Taliban's poppy ban, significantly reducing poppy cultivation, though some areas like Badakhshan continue to resist, leading to violent clashes. Despite efforts to enforce the ban, including crop destruction, many farmers have turned to other crops or left their land fallow due to the lack of viable alternatives and economic hardships. The Taliban's heavy-handed approach, coupled with ethnic tensions and the absence of non-farm job opportunities, has heightened unrest and could threaten the sustainability of the poppy ban, potentially fueling support for opposition groups.

Afghanistan’s Bold Move Against Poppy Cultivation: A Closer Look

This ban has led to a dramatic decrease in poppy cultivation, reaching historical lows. For example, by July 22, 2024, the main poppy-growing provinces had only 4,000 hectares of poppy fields, down from 16,000 hectares in 2023 and a massive 202,000 hectares in 2022 reports Alcis.

However,...