Rising opium cultivation in Myanmar poses threat to Manipur
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, June 07 2024: The Southeast Asia Opium Survey 2023 conducted by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) has revealed an alarming upward trend in poppy cultivation in Myanmar, which has profound implications for the region, particularly in the northeastern Indian state of Manipur.

As poppy cultivation expands in Myanmar, so does the illicit drug trade across the porous border shared with Manipur, exacerbating local socio-political tensions and economic instability.

According to the Southeast Asia Opium Survey 2023, the area under poppy cultivation in Myanmar increased by 18 per cent in 2023, reaching an estimated 47,100 hectares.

This marks a significant rise from the previous year's 40,000 hectares and continues the upward trend seen since the military takeover in February 2021.The cultivation levels, although not at the historic peaks of 58,000 hectares seen in 2013, are steadily climbing.

The sophistication and productivity of poppy farming in Myanmar have also increased.

With improved cultivation techniques, including the use of irrigation systems and fertilisers, yield estimates have risen.

In 2023, the national yield estimate was 22.9 kilograms of opium per hectare, up from 19.8 kilograms per hectare in 2022.Consequently, the potential dry opium production in Myanmar for 2023 is estimated at 1,080 metric tons, the highest since 2001.The economic impact of opium cultivation is significant in Myanmar.

The farmgate value of opium in 2023 ranged between $271 and $613 million, constituting 0.5 to 1 per cent of Myanmar's national GDP.

The average farmgate price for dry opium in 2023 was $356 per kilogram, more than triple the 2021 price in local currency terms, reflecting the increasing importance of opium in Myanmar's fragile economy.

Manipur, sharing a 400 km border with Myanmar, is directly affected by the rising opium cultivation across the border.

The state has been embroiled in ethnic violence, partly fuelled by the socio-economic disruptions caused by the government's "war on drugs" campaign, which has targeted poppy cultivation in the hill districts.

The recent ethnic clashes, sparked by protests from the Kuki tribe against the Meetei s demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status, have roots in the loss of livelihoods due to the crackdown on poppy farming.

Since 2017, the Manipur government has destroyed over 18,664 acres of poppy plantations, hitting tribal farmers hard.

In December 2022, a significant operation coinciding with the harvest season destroyed extensive poppy fields, exacerbating tensions.

Manipur's geographical location makes it a critical point in the drug trafficking route from the Golden Triangle-comprising Myanmar, Laos, and Thailand - one of the world's largest drug-producing regions.

The porous border, with only 10 per cent fenced, facilitates the easy movement of illicit drugs into northeast India.

Moreh, a border town in Manipur, is a key transit point for drug trafficking.

Just 60 km from Moreh lies the northern tip of Myanmar's Chin State, a region with high poppy cultivation density.

The drugs, including heroin derived from opium, flow into India, feeding the drug trade in the region.

Authorities regularly seize signiffcant quantities of drugs, highlighting the entrenched nature of the trade.

The narcotics trade in Manipur transcends political boundaries, with involvement from various groups, including politicians, businessmen, and law enforcement officials.

The Meetei groups accuse the Kuki-Chin tribes of migrating from Myanmar to work in poppy farms, further fuelling ethnic tensions.

The suspension of operations agreements with Kuki-Chin insurgents adds another layer of complexity to the conflict.

In a NDTV report earlier, Dr Nemthian Guite of Jawaharlal Nehru University pointed out that the government's failure to monitor the border effectively and control drug trafficking has led to an unfair blame on the poor tribal populations.

She argued that the rise in poppy cultivation could not have occurred without the complicity of authorities.

"It is wrong to blame tribal who are very poor for poppy cultivation.

The government, instead of enforcing anti-drugs laws strictly, monitoring the border and investigating how well-connected trafficking is in Manipur, is suddenly putting the blame only on tribal," Dr Nemthian Guite said, alluding to drug lords operating out of Imphal valley.

Another report by Al Jazeera quoted a poppy cultivator from Churachandpur district, who didn't wish to be named, saying "I switched to poppy cultivation in 2014 because in those days a kilo of chilli was 50 rupees to 60 rupees.

I couldn't depend on that.

The cost of living is high and I have seven kids".

According to reports, the drug economy in Manipur is substantial, with an estimated value of around 700 billion rupees per year ($8.37 billion).

However, authorities intercept only about 20 billion to 25 billion rupees' worth of drugs annually ($240 million to $300 million), which is less than 5 percent of the total drug trade.

In February 2020, the government reported seizing drugs worth more than 20 billion rupees ($240 million) over two and a half years and dismantling five makeshift drug manufacturing factories in Manipur.

For a small state with a population of about 2.72 million and an annual economy of slightly more than 400 billion rupees ($4.78 billion), these seizures represent a significant achievement.

According to a reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha, 1,728 kilograms of heroin were seized across India in 2021 and 2022.Based on the UNODC's 2021 typical retail price for heroin, this amount was valued at $213.24 million.

The increasing poppy cultivation in Myanmar and the subsequent rise in the illicit drug trade through Manipur underscore the interconnectedness of regional socio-economic and political issues.

The drug economy represents a substantial portion of the local economy.

For a small state like Manipur, the impact is profound, influencing both local governance and regional stability.

Comment