Opium cultivation in Afghanistan down by a fifth

The UNODC's Afghanistan Opium Survey 2008 shows a 19% decrease in opium cultivation to 157,000 hectares, compared to the record harvest of 193,000 in 2007. Owing to a higher yield of 48.8 kg/ha (up from 42.5 kg in 2007), opium production has dropped less dramatically, down 6% from 8,200 to 7,700.
The UN statement:
Opium cultivation in Afghanistan down by a fifth

Afghan Opium Survey 2008
Map of opium cultivation in 2008 in Afghanistan

Poppy, drugs, corruption and the smuggle of chemicals in Afghanistan

Christina Oguz, representative of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) gave a press conference in Kabul on Monday about poppy cultivation. She talked about the smuggling into Afghanistan of chemicals that are used in the illegal heroin laboratories.
The Press conference by Christina Gynna Oguz