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● LIVE Updated 2h ago · 9 sources tracked

Taliban’s poppy ban falters as Afghan farmers say they can't feed their children

Afghanistan's opium production has increased significantly despite the Taliban's ban on poppy cultivation. Farmers are finding ways to circumvent the ban, leading to a sharp rise in poppy cultivation and opium production. The ban has failed to achieve its intended goal, and Afghan farmers are struggling to feed their children as a result. The situation has led to a rise in malnutrition, particularly among children.

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  • ✓ Afghanistan's opium production has jumped fivefold despite the Taliban's ban on poppy cultivation.
  • ✓ The Taliban's ban on poppy cultivation has failed to achieve its intended goal.
  • ✓ Afghan farmers are struggling to feed their children due to the lack of alternative livelihoods.
  • ✓ The situation has led to a rise in malnutrition, particularly among children.
🛡️ Source Corroboration: 9 independent reporting domains (80% confidence) ⏱ Read time: ~2 min

What changed

The increase in opium production is a significant development, with reports indicating a fivefold jump in production.

Live updates

  1. Taliban's poppy ban falters as Afghan farmers struggle

    Afghanistan's opium production has increased significantly despite the Taliban's ban on poppy cultivation. Farmers are finding ways to circumvent the ban, leading to a sharp rise in poppy cultivation and opium production. The ban has failed to achieve its intended goal, and Afghan farmers are struggling to feed their children as a result. The situation has led to a rise in malnutrition, particularly among children.

    Why it matters

    The Taliban's ban on poppy cultivation was implemented to curb the country's opium trade, but it appears to have had the opposite effect. Afghanistan is the world's largest producer of opium, and the crop is a vital source of income for many farmers. The ban has left farmers with limited options for alternative livelihoods.

    What is confirmed

    • Afghanistan's opium production has jumped fivefold despite the Taliban's ban on poppy cultivation.
    • The Taliban's ban on poppy cultivation has failed to achieve its intended goal.
    • Afghan farmers are struggling to feed their children due to the lack of alternative livelihoods.
    • The situation has led to a rise in malnutrition, particularly among children.

    Still unconfirmed

    • Kids became malnourished after the Taliban banned opium.

    What to watch next

    • Further reports on the impact of the ban on Afghan farmers and the country's opium trade
    • Updates on the Taliban's response to the failure of the ban
    • Data on the extent of malnutrition in Afghanistan
    Sources used for this update (7)
    1. news.un.org — UN News | Global perspective Human stories
    2. Reuters — Taliban’s poppy ban falters as Afghan farmers say they can't feed their children
    3. UN News — Afghanistan opium production jumps fivefold as farmers find ways round Taliban ban
    4. AP News — UN reports a sharp rise in Afghanistan poppy cultivation despite a Taliban ban
    5. Newser — After Taliban Banned Opium, Kids Became Malnourished
    6. Yahoo — Afghanistan’s poppy problem
    7. www.yahoo.com — Taliban’s poppy ban falters as Afghan farmers struggle to ...
    confidence 80%
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