Staff Correspondent:
The United Nations (UN) has reported a sharp increase of opium production in Myanmar to a 9-year high of 795 metric tonnes in 2022, almost double the production in 2021 of 423 metric tonnes, following the military coup.
According to the UN report, increase is attributed to economic hardship, insecurity, and high global prices for opium resin used to make heroin. The coup caused Myanmar to plunge into a continuing bloody civil war. The UN believes the economic, security, and governance disruptions caused by the military takeover have led farmers in conflict-prone areas to turn back to opium as a source of livelihood stated BBC in an article published in their website.
Myanmar is the world’s second-largest opium producer after Afghanistan and a significant source of the global heroin trade. However, the last decade saw a steady decline in opium cultivation due to crop substitution projects and improved economic opportunities.
The UN report showed an increase in opium production, which has been the highest since 2013. The UN has also monitored a rise in synthetic drug production, which has replaced opium as the source of funding for armed groups in war-torn Myanmar said BBC.
Despite requiring more labor, opium is an attractive cash crop in a post-coup economic crisis that has limited alternative employment options. Opium farming income rose to $280/kg in 2022, reflecting strong demand and the crop’s commodity value.
Opium cultivation areas rose by a third to 40,100 hectares and average yields reached the highest since 2002. The UN calls on Myanmar’s neighbors to assess the situation and provide alternatives and economic stability to prevent the expansion of opium cultivation and production.
on the other hand neighboring countries are concerned because of increasing of opium production in myanmar. As opium used to make Heroin and Methamphetamine (YABA) ice etc. it will make a negative impact if drug traders peddle this to neighbouring country in the form of drugs like “YABA”. According to the analysts,rebel groups are are involved in trading drugs to rise thier fund,this also a big concern for neighbours country. because Neighboring countries will be severely affected by drug trafficking and Terrorist activities of international drug traffickers across the border region will increase,said analysts.
