DECLINE OF OPIUM CULTIVATION IN ‘GOLDEN TRIANGLE’

(Reissued as received.)

VIENNA, 18 June (UN Information Service) -- The Myanmar and Lao People’s Democratic Republic Opium Surveys for 2003 confirm the downward trend in opium cultivation in the "Golden Triangle" (which also includes Thailand).  The surveys show a 24 per cent decline for Myanmar and a 15 per cent decline for Lao People’s Democratic Republic in comparison to 2002.  Opium poppy cultivation is estimated at 62,200 hectares in Myanmar in 2003 against 81,400 hectares in 2002, and at 12,000 hectares in Lao People Democratic Republic in 2003 against 14,100 hectares in 2002.  Potential opium production in Myanmar is estimated at 810 metric tons against 828 metric tons in 2002.

"The vicious linkage between opium and poverty is being broken.  Until recently the elimination of opium cultivation in the ‘Golden Triangle’ would have been considered impossible.  It is now within reach.  However, countries need assistance to sustain legal activities and alternative crops.  With the support of the international community, an important and painful chapter of world drug history is coming to an end", Antonio Maria Costa, the Executive Director of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), said today at the launch of the surveys in New York.

Although their numbers are declining, over 350,000 households in Myanmar and 40,000 in Lao People’s Democratic Republic will continue to derive the largest share of their income from the opium harvested (an estimated 810 metric tons in Myanmar and 120 metric tons in Lao People’s Democratic Republic).  To sustain these declines alternative development programmes for farmers are required.

Myanmar and Lao People’s Democratic Republic’s significant achievements in 2003, together with the marginal level of the harvest in Thailand and Vietnam, have reduced opium cultivation in South-east Asia by 60 per cent since 1996.

Opium Poppy Cultivation in Myanmar and Laos 1996-2003 in Hectares

Country	1996	1997	1998	1999	2000	2001	2002	2003
Myanmar	163,000	155,150	130,300	89,500	108,700	105,000	81,400	62,200
Laos	21,600	24,100	26,800	22,500	19,000	17,300	14,100	12,000
Total	184,600	179,250	157,100	112,000	127,700	122,300	95,500	74,200

The Myanmar and Lao People’s Democratic Republic annual opium surveys are part of the UNODC Illicit Crop Monitoring Programme (ICMP), which currently covers six countries where most of the world's coca and opium poppy cultivation takes place:  Afghanistan, Bolivia, Colombia, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Myanmar and Peru.  This year the programme is also launching a first survey of cannabis cultivation in Morocco.

Myanmar is the world's second largest supplier of opium and heroin after Afghanistan, with the Shan state representing more than 90 per cent of the total opium poppy cultivation in the country.  Lao People’s Democratic Republic is the third largest opium producer in the world.

A similar opium survey for Afghanistan is ongoing and will be released next October.  According to last year's survey (2002), Afghanistan's opium production amounted to 3,400 metric tons.

These comprehensive surveys are jointly carried out by UNODC and the governments concerned and make extensive use of satellite imagery and field verification.

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