Japan welcomes decline in Afghanistan’s poppy cultivation, calls for sustained anti-drug efforts

Japan has welcomed Afghanistan’s efforts to combat narcotics, describing the reported decline in poppy cultivation since 2022 as a significant development while calling for continued anti-drug measures and sustainable alternative livelihoods for farmers.

The Embassy of Japan in Afghanistan made the remarks in response to a recent report by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) on the country’s narcotics situation.

In a statement, the embassy said Japan highly values Afghanistan’s continued counter-narcotics efforts, emphasizing that lasting progress requires not only reducing poppy cultivation but also providing alternative sources of income for farmers previously dependent on opium production.

Japan also stressed the importance of creating sustainable economic opportunities to help former poppy farmers maintain their livelihoods and prevent a return to narcotics cultivation.

However, the latest UNODC report points to a significant increase in poppy cultivation in 2026 compared with the previous year. According to the report, cultivation rose more than fourfold, reaching approximately 43,300 hectares.

Opium production also increased from around 300 metric tons in 2025 to approximately 1,500 metric tons in 2026, the report said.

Meanwhile, Afghanistan’s Ministry of Interior has rejected the UNODC findings, arguing that the figures and assessments do not correspond with official information and evidence collected in the field.