Myanmar has overtaken Afghanistan as the world’s largest producer of opium, according to the UN. The increase in production is being driven by conflict and poverty. This level of production represents a significant jump, with some reports suggesting the highest yield since 2001.
BANGKOK, In a startling revelation, the United Nations has declared Myanmar as the world’s primary source of opium. Eclipsing Afghanistan, owing to domestic instability and a significant decline in opium cultivation in the latter. This revelation was made in a report released last week by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).
Afghanistan witnessed a staggering 95% drop in opium cultivation following a drug ban imposed by the Taliban in 2022. Consequently, the global opium supply has shifted its epicenter to Myanmar. The UNODC report attributes this shift to the political, social, and economic turmoil triggered by a coup in Myanmar in 2021. It compelled many to turn to poppy farming as a means of livelihood.
Farmers in Myanmar are now earning approximately 75% more from opium poppy farming, with average prices surging to around $355 per kilogram. The cultivation area has also expanded by 18% year-on-year, soaring from 40,100 to 47,000 hectares. Thereby boosting the potential yield to its highest level since 2001, according to the UNODC.
Rise Of New Fear
“The economic, security, and governance disruption that followed the military takeover in February 2021 continues to drive farmers in remote areas towards opium cultivation as a means of sustenance,” noted UNODC Regional Representative Jeremy Douglas.
Opium cultivation zones have witnessed the most substantial growth in Myanmar’s border regions, particularly in northern Shan State. Chin and Kachin states have also seen notable increases in opium production, with yields per hectare rising by 16% to 22.9 kilograms. It is attributed to more advanced farming practices, as stated in the UNODC report.
The escalating conflict between the Myanmar military and armed ethnic-minority groups is expected to further accelerate the expansion of opium cultivation, warned Jeremy Douglas.
This expansion of opium cultivation contributes to the flourishing illicit economy in Myanmar. It encompasses not only high levels of synthetic drug production and trafficking but also a spectrum of other criminal enterprises. However, it ranges from money laundering to online scam centers run by organized crime syndicates.
