UNODC Report - Afghanistan opium survey 2010, summary findings

According to the findings of this UNODC report, the total opium poppy cultivation estimated for Afghanistan in 2010 did not change from 2009 and remained at 123,000 hectares. Ninety eight per cent of the total cultivation took place in nine provinces in the Southern and Western regions, including the most insecure provinces in the country. This further substantiates the link between insecurity and opium cultivation observed since 2007.

Total opium production in 2010 was estimated at 3,600 metric tons (mt), a 48% decrease from 2009. The sharp decline was due to the spread of a disease that affected opium fields in the major growing provinces, particularly Hilmand and Kandahar. The disease started to appear in the fields after flowering in spring. This was too late to plant another crop, therefore the disease did not change the area under opium cultivation. The major effect of the disease was visible in the yield which dropped to 29.2 kg/ha, a 48% reduction from 2009.

Virtually all opium production (96%) took place in the same southern and western provinces where cultivation is concentrated. The other provinces produced only 4% of the country’s total opium in 2010.

All 20 provinces which were poppy free in 2009, remained poppy free in 2010. The total estimated farm-gate income of opium growing farmers amounted to US$ 604 million. This is a significant increase from 2009, when farm-gate income for opium was estimated at US$ 438 million.

Click here to read the report.