Asia-Pacific

Myanmar reports progress in opium destruction

(Agencies)
Updated: 2011-03-07 17:11

YANGON, Myanmar- Myanmar has eradicated opium poppies from more than 15,000 acres (6,000 hectares) of land in the 2010-2011 growing season.

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The state-run Myanma Ahlin newspaper said Monday that 350 acres (142 hectares) of opium in northeastern Shan States and 411 acres (166 hectares) in Kachin state were destroyed in the last week of February alone.

Myanmar is the world's second biggest producer of opium, from which heroin is derived. Afghanistan is the largest.

The 15,021.75 acres (6,079 hectares) represents about one-sixth of the estimated 94,147 acres (38,100 hectares) of poppies in the country.

Opium cultivation in Myanmar dropped from 402,782 acres (163,000 hectares) in 1996 to 53,375 acres (21,600 hectares) in 2006, but has been inching up since.