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Farmers in northern Afghanistan struggle to replace lost opium income, UN says
A new United Nations report highlights the economic challenges faced by farmers in northern Afghanistan following bans on opium cultivation. Surveys in Badakhshan, Balkh, and Kunduz provinces show that 85 percent of households have been unable to compensate for lost income, leaving communities in urgent need of economic support.
The UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) noted that in Badakhshan and Balkh provinces, nearly 95 percent of former opium farmers reported halting cultivation due to legal restrictions. Most have turned to wheat and other grains as alternative crops.
The report also highlighted that climate change is also threatening agriculture livelihoods in Afghanistan. Surface water remains source of irrigation for 65 percent of poppy cultivating villages and for 88 percent of other villages.
The UN report emphasizes the urgent need for targeted livelihood programs, including access to water, credit, and market opportunities for alternative crops.