Afghan opium cultivation jumps 10% in 2016: UN

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KABUL: Afghanistan saw a 10 percent jump in opium cultivation this year, the United Nations said, a sharp rise after a drop last year for the first time since 2009.

High levels of cultivation meant the total opium production soared 43 percent, the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) told reporters, citing better yield because of favourable weather conditions.