Afghanistan’s Deputy Minister for Counter-Narcotics has urged the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) to expand support for legal livelihoods for farmers, saying such assistance is vital to preventing narcotics production and trafficking.
Abdulrahman Munir made the appeal during a meeting in Kabul with Polleak Ok Serei, head of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, according to a statement from Afghanistan’s Ministry of Interior Affairs.
The ministry said Munir called on international organisations to fulfil their commitments to Afghan farmers.
“All international organizations, particularly the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, should fulfill their commitments to support farmers through the provision of alternative livelihoods and to assist in drug prevention efforts,” he said.
Munir also said the fight against narcotics should not be shaped by political considerations.
“He emphasized that the fight against narcotics should not become a victim of political objectives; rather, it should be viewed from the perspective of human life, health, and welfare as a vital humanitarian issue,” the ministry said.
UNODC says Afghanistan had 233,000 hectares of opium poppy cultivation in 2022, producing 6,200 tonnes of opium worth $1.4 billion. The agency says the April 2022 narcotics ban led to a 95% reduction in poppy cultivation and opium production, creating a need for alternative livelihoods in around a third of Afghan villages.
According to UNODC, its Alternative Development programme in Afghanistan aims to help affected and vulnerable farming communities move away from illicit crop cultivation. The programme has expanded to nine provinces and includes support for legal livelihoods, awareness-raising and broader socio-economic development initiatives.
The need for such support remains significant. A UNODC survey published in December 2025 found that 85% of families surveyed in Badakhshan, Balkh and Kunduz had either no replacement income or only a partial replacement for earnings previously generated from poppy cultivation.
UNODC said many farmers had switched to cereal crops, mainly wheat, but that incomes remained significantly lower than those earned from opium. The agency said sustainable alternatives should include high-value crops, improved irrigation, access to finance and markets, job creation, skills training, co-operatives, cold storage facilities and processing infrastructure.
Ok Serei welcomed the work of the Counter-Narcotics Deputy Ministry and said UNODC would continue its support.
“He pledged that his office would expand its cooperation in preventing narcotics, providing alternative livelihoods for farmers, and strengthening related programs,” the ministry said.
Bangladesh has called for increased climate financing and faster delivery of support to vulnerable nations, arguing that current global funding commit...
U.S. President Donald Trump said that Iran had agreed to nuclear inspections into "infinity, despite Tehran's denials, and that unfrozen Iranian asset...
Apple is facing a £3 billion lawsuit in the United Kingdom after a competition tribunal approved a major collective action over its iCloud storage se...
Iran has strengthened ties with regional partners and agreed a roadmap for technical talks with the U.S. aimed at securing a final peace agreement wit...
Belgium has issued 24-hour visas to a Taliban delegation attending European Union migration talks in Brussels, as EU member states explore ways to ret...
Belgium has issued 24-hour visas to a Taliban delegation attending European Union migration talks in Brussels, as EU member states explore ways to return some Afghans convicted of serious crimes or considered security threats.
The European Union is set to host Taliban officials in Brussels for talks on migration, marking the first known visit by the group to an EU meeting since it returned to power in Afghanistan in 2021.
Kazakhstan's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Economy, Serik Zhumangarin, met senior Afghan officials in Kabul during a three-day visit aimed at expanding political, trade, transit and investment cooperation.
Afghanistan's displaced women cricketers have begun their first international tour of England as they continue their campaign for formal recognition after years in exile.
At least thirteen people have died and sixty-six have been injured following an explosion at Qatar's main liquefied natural gas (LNG) processing hub at Ras Laffan, authorities said on Sunday.
Cape Verde’s remarkable FIFA World Cup debut continued on Sunday (21 June) as the tournament newcomers held Uruguay to a 2-2 draw. Goalkeeper Vozinha was once again at the centre of the story, this time with his mother watching from the stands.
Tehran has agreed to let the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) recommence inspections of its nuclear programme, U.S. Vice President JD Vance has said. The U.S. and Iran have settled on a 60-day roadmap aimed at reaching a final deal, according to mediators Qatar and Pakistan.
Armenia and Azerbaijan have agreed on a landmark internet deal that will allow traffic to pass through Azerbaijani networks.It's the latest deal to highlight the ongoing peace process between the two countries.
A Ukrainian strike has damaged a school building in a Russian-controlled area of Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia region, according to local authorities cited by the TASS news agency. No injuries were reported in the incident.
U.S. President Donald Trump said that Iran had agreed to nuclear inspections into "infinity, despite Tehran's denials, and that unfrozen Iranian assets would be used to buy humanitarian supplies from the United States.
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) has announced a loan of up to $25 million to support energy-efficiency upgrades at Tashkent Pipe Plant (TPP), one of Uzbekistan’s leading private steel producers.
For Pakistan, helping create space for dialogue between the U.S. and Iran was never solely about diplomacy. It was about avoiding the economic and security consequences of a wider regional conflict.
The visit also took on symbolic importance as the two leaders travelled to the liberated cities of Shusha and Fuzuli, areas Azerbaijan regained after decades of occupation.
A United Nations official has warned that efforts to stabilise southern Syria remain stalled nearly a year after deadly sectarian violence in Sweida province, with tensions between Druze factions, Bedouin communities and state authorities still unresolved.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment