Myanmar surpasses Afghanistan in opium production.

A recent report by the United Nations reveals that Myanmar has surpassed Afghanistan as the world's leading producer of opium. It is estimated that Myanmar's opium production will increase by 36% this year, reaching a total of 1,080 tonnes - the primary ingredient for heroin. The shift in global rankings is largely attributed to domestic instability in Myanmar and a drastic reduction in poppy cultivation in Afghanistan following a ban on drugs imposed by the Taliban. Afghanistan's opium production for this year is estimated to be 330 tonnes. According to the report from the United Nations Office for Drugs and Crime (UNODC), Myanmar's economy has been severely impacted by conflict and instability after a military takeover in 2021. The lack of legitimate economic opportunities, limited access to markets and infrastructure, along with an increasingly challenging economic climate characterized by inflation and currency devaluation, have created favorable conditions for the cultivation of opium and other illicit commodities as a means of subsistence. The report emphasizes that these factors contributed significantly to the decision of farmers in late 2022 to cultivate more poppy in Myanmar. The average prices of fresh and dry opium at the time of harvest have also risen, reaching $317 and $356 per kilogram, respectively. Furthermore, the report predicts an 18% increase in the area under poppy cultivation in Myanmar, also known as Burma, in 2023 compared to the previous year, amounting to 47,000 hectares (116,140 acres). The region where the borders of Myanmar, Thailand, and Laos meet, commonly referred to as the Golden Triangle, has historically been a major hub for opium and heroin production. Myanmar and Afghanistan are the primary sources of heroin sold worldwide.