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An Afghan farmer poses for a photo as they harvest wheat in Kandahar, Afghanistan, 27 May 2024. According to the Agriculture and Livestock Department officials in Kandahar, there has been an increase in wheat cultivation, with over 96,000 hectares planted, expected to yield over 360,000 tons. This follows the Afghan government's ban on poppy cultivation, which had previously been the dominant crop. As of late 2023, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) reported a 95 percent drop in Afghan opium poppy cultivation since the ban was enforced, leading to an estimated loss of more than one billion dollars for Afghan farmers. Many farmers have turned to wheat cultivation, but it does not generate as much income as opium. The UNODC called for urgent assistance to rural communities and investment in sustainable livelihoods away from opium. (Photo by Qudratullah Razwan/EPA/EFE)
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