CNI News
30 March 2024
Because of the current armed conflicts, opium poppy has been more cultivated again, which is known from international surveys and seizure of narcotic drugs. In the Southeast Asia Opium Survey, Myanmar is the country which grows most and produces heroin most in the world, according to the UNODC.
Before political changes that started in 2021, the State spent a lot of budget on the opium substitution program and the regional development. So, although opium poppy cultivation was reduced, after political changes, opium poppy cultivation has been higher again.
Although elephant foot yam, avocado and so on were grown in the past as opium substitution crops, at present because of armed conflicts, difficult transportation and lack of market, opium poppy has been grown again, Naung Kham, a Pa-O youth, told CNI News.
" Mainly, opium poppy is grown most around the Manal Mountain and to the east of Hsi Hseng, around the Lwemaw Mountain. Around these mountains, because the main cultivation area contains many mountain-sides, it's not easy to grow other crops. Moreover, even though other crops can be grown, their prices are not high and transportation is difficult. So, other crops are not grown. In the past, elephant foot yam and avocado were grown. But transportation charges are very high and the market of elephant foot yam is not stable. So, opium poppy is grown again because it is easy to grow and it is light to carry it. And battles broke out severely in that region about two weeks ago." he said.
While scraping opium poppy
Opium poppy cultivation in Myanmar was gradually reduced starting from 2015 and it was reduced until 11 percent, according to the surveys of the UN. However, the cultivation became high again starting from 2021. According to the UNODC, opium poppy cultivation has increased by 20 percent per year in Shan State, the main opium poppy cultivation area.
Moreover, regarding the opium poppy cultivation in Myanmar, over 100,000 acres in northern Shan State, over 10,000 acres in Kachin State, about 2,000 acres in Chin State, over 1,000 acres in Kayah State and 600 acres in Sagaing Region have increased than in 2015, according to the report of the UNODC.
Myanmar citizens have chosen the opium poppy to cultivate because of their difficult income, Saw Khun Kyaw Win from the Pa-O National Organization Party, told CNI News.
While scraping opium poppy
" We educate the people not to grow the opium poppy. But we can't tell them not to grow it at all because there are many organizations concerned. But we carry out opium substitution programs in the places within our reach in collaboration with many foreign organizations and social organizations including the government. But because it's very difficult for the people to earn income, they will choose the method that they can earn income. Mainly, they have the rights to choose." he said.
The price of opium is 800,000 kyats per viss at least and four to six visses of opium can be produced from an acre of cultivation reportedly. The current political situation, the country's economic decline and higher commodity price were pushing local farmers to grow opium poppy, remarked economic analysts.
At present, Myanmar is growing opium poppy more than Pakistan and Afghanistan that were regarded as the biggest growers in the past, according to the surveys of the UN.
