"...Opium Poppy Cultivation: In 2011, for the fifth year in a row, opium poppy cultivation increased in Myanmar. The total area under opium poppy cultivation was estimated at 43,600 ha, an increase of 14% compared to 2010 (38,100 ha). This upward trend started in 2007 after six years of decline between 2001 and 2006. Shan State accounted now for 91% of opium production in Myanmar, while the largest increase in poppy cultivation was observed in Kachin State (+27%). In Shan State most of the increase in the area cultivated took place in South Shan (+21%) followed by North Shan (+17%). There was no significant change in East Shan (+1%)...Opium yield and production In 2011, the national average opium yield was estimated at 14.0 kg per hectare, which represents a decrease of 8% compared to last year?s yield. Nevertheless, the larger area under cultivation resulted in an increase in total opium production of 5%, from 580 mt in 2010 to 610 mt in 2011... Opium prices: Opium prices in Myanmar have significantly increased in 2011. The average farm-gate price of opium (weighted by the estimated area under cultivation) was US$ 450/kg in 2011, up some 48% from US$ 305/kg in 2010. Opium prices have continued to increase since 2002. The most recent increase can be explained by the strong demand in opium from neighbouring countries as well as the depreciation of the Kyat against the US$ (by some 14% over the past year)... Household income from opium: The average annual cash income of opium-producing households increased by almost 24% in the Shan State, from US$ 830 in 2010 to US$ 1,030 in 2011. However, opium farmers in Myanmar generally remain poorer than non-opium growing farmers. For non-opium cultivating households (including those that never cultivated or have stopped opium poppy cultivation), the average annual cash income was almost US$ 1,200. On average, income from opium accounts for 54% of total cash income among poppy-growing farmers and in South Shan even more than 60%. For Myanmar opium survey 2011 44 these farmers, opium cultivation is the principal income to survive, which is illustrated by the comments of farmers that had stopped cultivating opium and had to purchase food on credit or borrow food and rely on relatives and friends... Addiction: Data on opium and other drug addiction was collected via interviews with village headmen. Headmen were asked about the number of daily opium users and the number of ?regular? users of other drugs (without specifying frequency of use). According to the headmen, daily opium use in Shan State and in Kachin affects 0.8% of the population aged 15 years and above. As in previous years, the prevalence rate was higher in opium-growing villages (1.3%) than in non-opiumgrowing villages (0.4%). Although the number of amphetamine type stimulant (ATS) users is increasing, the prevalence rate remained very low, at 0.2% of the population in opium-growing areas which is almost the same ratio as last year. Heroin use is also reported to be very low, affecting less than 0.1% of the population aged 15 and above. However, information on drug use must be interpreted with caution, as respondents may have been reluctant to report opium, heroin and ATS consumption in the context of the Government?s efforts to curb drug use and addiction... Reported Eradication: This survey did not monitor or validate the results of the eradication campaign carried out by the Government of Myanmar (GOUM). According to the GOUM, a total of 7,058 ha were eradicated in the 2010-2011 opium season, which is 15% less the area eradicated in 2009-2010. Most of the eradication continued to take place in Shan State (85% of the total), notably in South Shan (51%). 44% of the eradication concentrated in three townships in the southern part of South Shan, namely Pinlaung, Pekong and Sisaing townships... Food security and coping strategies: Food security remains a major problem in almost all regions where the survey took place for both poppy-growing and non-poppy-growing villages. The erosion of food security is of particular concern because it could trigger a further increase in opium cultivation. In order to meet their food deficit, households across all regions most frequently sought assistance from friends and/or took loans to buy food. The high (and rising) price of opium in Myanmar is making opium production more attractive. In fact, as a proportion of total income, opium income has increased among opium growing farmers. Among opium growing farmers, the proportion of total household income derived from opium production is also now increasing. Between 2003 and 2009, the income generated by opium was a declining proportion of opium-growing farmers? total cash income falling (from 70% to about 20% during the period). However, in 2010, this trend reversed and the proportion of total cash income coming from opium is now 54%. With the cultivation of one hectare of opium farmers earned 9 times more than from rice cultivation in low lands, and 15 times more than rice cultivated in uplands. This makes it more difficult to convince farmers to abandon opium and switch to other crops. Nonetheless, this survey provides important information to help design and target alternative livelihood-programmes..."