NAYPYIDAW, Myanmar— Myanmar is the world’s second largest producer of opium, the basic ingredient for heroin, behind Afghanistan. They both account for about 90 percent of the world’s opium production. After years of decline, Myanmar’s opium production has been increasing at an alarming rate in the past seven years. In 2013 alone, Myanmar’s opium production increased by 26 percent.
According to Jason Eligh, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime Myanmar country manager, poverty, ethnic conflict and the smuggling of chemicals are instigating this problem.
He said that the roots of the cause are intensified by household debt and farmers’ lack of access to arable land. About 26 percent of the population earns around $2 a day.
Most of Myanmar’s opium production takes place in Shan State, an area that has been plagued by intense disputes between government forces and ethnic armed groups. Opium poppy production flourishes in areas of unrest, where economic opportunities are limited and rule of law institutions are weak or not present.
Becoming involved in opium production sometimes becomes a last resort to sustain these impoverished households.
One of the biggest obstacles to effectively responding to this problem in Myanmar is the smuggling of chemicals into Myanmar from neighboring states, which enables the drug production in the country.
This problem is also leading to health issues. Estimating that there are between 300,000 and 400,000 drug users in Myanmar, these drug users are at a much higher risk of death from diseases, such as HIV and tuberculosis. Many do not have access to drugs that treat AIDS or other diseases.
The government of Myanmar had previously made great progress in responding to opium production. In 1996, opium cultivation was more than 160,000 hectares and by 2006 that number had decreased to around 20,000 hectares.
Unfortunately, since 2006, investment by the international community in development and counter-narcotic programs in Myanmar has not been up to par. Cultivation has increased since then, currently reaching almost 60,000 hectares.
What can the international community do to combat this problem?
“Countries in the region and international partners need to significantly scale-up cooperation and technical assistance in precursor control,” said Jeremy Douglas, UNODC regional representative for Southeast Asia and the Pacific.
The UN is calling for more resources and money to be pumped in to help tackle the problem.
Financial investment is needed in the expansion of HIV and drug treatment services for Myanmar’s drug users.
Myanmar’s government also needs to cooperate more with neighboring states, as well as monitor illicit drug and chemical trafficking more closely. Financial and technical support is needed in order to do this.
Unless the Myanmar government works to reduce poverty and assist farmers in making decent livings, it will be difficult to persuade citizens to get out of the opium production market.
“There’s no silver bullet, it’s going to require time, it’s going to require money and it’s going to require the partnership of a number of different actors,” Eligh said.
– Colleen Moore
Sources: Deutsche Welle, Channel News Asia, Eleven
Feature Image: Deutsche Welle