Poppy cultivation soars in Kayah State

_{By Hseng Khio Fah
1 December 2008}

More than the past, cultivation in the areas of Loikaw, Dimawso and Shadaw townships have been spread over in the farms, valleys and places where there are access to water.

The junta authorities came to destroy the cultivation in these areas, but only fields in one village in Shadaw were destroyed, said KADAC.

“There are 47 villages in Shadaw area that cultivated poppies, but the authorities just destroyed about 10 acres in one village only,” a farmer said.

The authorities who came to destroy this time were reportedly from Nay Pyi Daw, not the local authorities, said the source. “But the local authorities did not come to disturb us, because we always pay tax to them.”

Even though the junta had planned to bring down the number of poppy cultivation within 15 years, so far success is only in the ceasefire areas, said an analyst of the drug situation.

There are three 5 year projects of the junta’s drug eradication plan, from 1999-2004, 2004-2009 and 2009 to 2014.

The junta reportedly plans to destroy in area of Loikaw and Dimawso, Kayah State during the last past 2009-2014, which does not include Shadaw.

Current opium prices in Kayah are K 540,000 for 1 viss (3.6kg). Last year, it was K450, 000 ($375), according to sources.

“If the rain doesn’t destroy the crops, there we will get a nice harvest than in the past,” a farmer said.

However, poppy farmers are worried about opium prices due to greater availability.