Poppy cultivation in the post-war Afghanistan is on the rise, a spokesman of the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) said Monday.

"A survey conducted by the Ministry of Counter-Narcotics and UN Office on Drug and Crime (UNODC) last December and January in Afghanistan in 2006 shows an increase in 13 provinces," Adrian Edwards told journalists at a weekly news briefing.

The 13 provinces, which saw increase in poppy cultivation, include the restive Helmand, Uruzgan and Zabul the hotbed of Taliban, said the UN official.

Afghanistan, with an output of 3,600 tons of opium poppy in 2003, became the single largest producer of the raw material used in manufacturing heroin in the world.

The post-Taliban nation also by producing 4,200 in 2004 and 4, 100 tons of opium in 2005 has topped the list in supplying the contraband in the world.

However, survey conducted in 2005 indicated 21 percent decrease from the previous year.

"Last year survey published in November, UNODC reported that the cultivated area of Afghan opium crop decreased by 21 percent compared to 2004. This year, however increase looks likely," Edwards noted.

Afghanistan, under a strategy launched in May 2003, targets to cut poppy cultivation by 75 percent by 2008.

Source: Xinhua