1,300 Kachin State households rely on opium production
YANGON - According to data released by the government, more than 1,300 households living in 33 villages on the Myanmar-China border in Kachin State run opium plantations as of 2016.
Opium production is the primary occupation of a total of 5,954 people belonging to 1,379 households in 33 villages located in the Kanpiketi, Sadon and Chibwe areas of Myitkyina District.
Bauk Jar, the social welfare minister for Kachin State, said: “Those areas do not have schools. They plant opium seasonally, and then they move to other places. We haven’t investigated the ground yet for security reasons. Currently, we have planned to donate 200 rice bags to those regions, despite our shortage. We have to cooperate with NGOs to devise a long-term solution to this problem.”
The government and the civic organisations are cooperating to combat drugs in Kachin State. According to the data, a total of 3,255.56 acres of opium plantations have been destroyed as of February 9, 2016.
The police colonel and the border security minister of Kachin State met on February 6 in Kanpiketi to discuss the issue of opium production in the state.
The Kachin State government delivered the 200 rice bags to the households on February 7.
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