High prices

A new UN report released this month shows opium poppy-crop cultivation in Afghanistan is once again on the rise, after dipping last year.
Jawzjan Kunduz Takhar Baghlan Panjshir Bamyan Ghor Day Day Kundi Kundi Down 35% Uruzgan Up 45% Zabul Zabul Down 46% Nimroz Nimroz Up 22% Kandahar Kandahar Up 5% Himand Down 3%

IN MINUTES

News and events visually

Opium poppy cultivation in Afghanistan, by province

with % change from 2010
Legend
Opium cultivation (ha) Poppy free Less than 1000 1000 - 10,000 ha 10,000 - 30,000 ha More than 30,000

Balkh Samangan

Badakshan Up 55%

Faryab Badghis Down 33% Hirat Up 2%

Sari Pul

Kunar Parwan Laghman Laghman Up 275% Up 166% Kabul Wardak Nangarhar Logar Up 276% Paktya Ghazni Khost

Farayab Up 20%

Pakita

Afghanistan produces 90% of the worlds supply of opium the raw ingredient used to make heroin.

Opium cultivation was estimated at 131,000 ha in 2011, up 7% from 2010

Opium is a drug made from the poppy plant. Opium, which contains a morphine, is extracted from the seed pod after the ower has bloomed and faded away. The opaque, milky sap is extracted by slitting the pod open with a knife. The sap turns darker and thicker, into a brownish gum. As the gum is collected, it is formed into bricks.

From opium ...

$700

Global heroin ows

To Canada Europe China Afghanistan

600 500 400 300 200 100 0 97 98 99 00 01 02 0304 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 Price in US$/kg

The bricks are shipped out into the black market.

Africa

to morphine ...
Opium contains more than 35 di erent alkaloids, including morphine, which accounts for approximately 10% of the total raw opium weight. The morphine is extracted from the opium in labs.

2009 low opium price levels discouraged farmers from planting opium. However, since then, opium prices have tripled. That in combination with lower wheat prices may have encouraged famers to resume opium cultivation.

Reasons for cultivating opium

High sale price of opium Poverty To improve living conditions High income from little land
Source: United Nations O ce on Drugs and Crime

Reasons for stopping opium cultivation

47% 2011 2010 59%

to heroin
Heroin is a highly addictive drug that is processed from morphine. It is typically sold as a white or brownish powder or as the black sticky substance known on the streets as black tar heroin. Heroin can be injected, snorted or smoked.
QMI Agency

13% 15% 13% 13% 8% 11%

It was banned by the government Fear of government Because of disease It is against Islam
2%

23% 25% 10% 15% 14% 11% 13%