Kachin poppy production falls: police 

He said the figures from the regional administrative bodies showed that the area of poppy plantations decreased remarkably in Kanpaikti and Sadon along the border with China but no data had yet been received from the Anti-Narcotics Association. 
"We see almost no poppy plantation in the border towns of Kanpaikti and Sadon. This is because Zakon Ting Ring [an ethnic Kachin leader] issued an order not to grow poppies," said the colonel. "Another reason is that thousands of banana plantations with Chinese tissue culture methods were developed in the area. Labourers went there in great numbers. The association has yet to send us satellite images and maps. We don't see other plantations as a poppy-substitute. For anti-poppy operations, we will do as much as we can depending on the security conditions." 
He said he was sure poppy plantations were on the decrease. 
Sadone residents said there were still small-scale poppy plantations for domestic users although Chinese investment had fallen. 
"Last year saw very few poppy growers. We heard some went to northern Panwa," said a Sadone resident.  
According to official records, poppy cultivation increased sharply after 2011 when the government and Kachin Independence Army resumed fighting. 
Meanwhile, the destruction of poppy plantations increased with 618 acres in the 2012-13 financial year, 492 acres in 2013-14, 1,322 acres in 2014-15 and over 3,000 acres in 2015-16. 
Last year there were 33 villages with 1,379 households and almost 6,000 people associated with poppy growth. 
Kanpaikti, Sadone, Tanine, Hpakant, Panwa, Chibwe, Bhamo, Swanparaban and Putao are the main townships associated with the heroin trade. 
Residents say Chinese investment in the trade has fallen dramatically.