Opium cultivation in Afghanistan is likely...

"There is a good chance that Afghanistan will produce less opium this year," UNODC chief Antonio Maria Costa said in a statement.

The UNODC said opium production could remain stable or decrease due to poor weather conditions, but it warned that the number of poppy-free provinces in Afghanistan could go down from 20 to 17.

"However, if timely poppy eradication measures are implemented and/or drought conditions prevail, a total of 25 provinces - an increase of five compared to 2009 - could be poppy-free in 2010."

Afghanistan produces more than 90% of the world"s illegal opium, the main raw material for heroin and a major source of revenue for Afghan Taliban-led insurgency.

Afghan opium production increased dramatically after the U.S.-led invasion that toppled the Taliban in 2001, and Russia has been one of the most affected countries, with heroin consumption rising steeply.

Russia was the biggest consumer of Afghan heroin in 2008, accounting for

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