Research on Substitute Crops of Opium in Kokang, Myanmar

缅甸东部边境山区是著名的罂粟种植区。为了根除罂粟种植，发展罂粟替代作物是必不可少的。从这一观点出发，1998年8月至9月在掸邦Kohkang地区进行了为期两周的实地调查。在Ta Shwe Tan村及其周围，这是罂粟种植区的位置之一，农业和农场管理和农产品进行了调查。在种植罂粟的山区，仍然实行轮垦，玉米是主要作物。然后，我们具体调查了替代作物或动物产品，有可能成为当地农民的收入来源。从山区到市场的道路条件很差，在雨季经常发生路过停车。因此，水果、蔬菜等不能保存的原材料产品不可能成为经济作物。中药材因其价格高、数量少、干燥保存等特点，成为替代作物的候选作物之一，但在本次调查中未发现有前景的中药材。这个地区以茶叶生产而闻名。半发酵茶-光康茶，只要改进其制备方法，就有可能成为一种替代作物。此外，还在几个村庄进行了日本荞麦品种的试种，作为适合当地环境的经济作物。当地农民有荞麦种植经验，获得了足够的种子产量和标准质量。如果与日本消费者的价格谈判和向仰光运输的方法成功，荞麦可能成为罂粟的替代作物。

The mountainous border zone of the eastern part of Myanmar is famous as a opium poppy cultivation zone. To exterminate poppy cultivation, development of substitute crops of poppy is indispensable. From such a viewpoint, field survey was carried out in Kohkang area, Shan State for two weeks from Aug. to Sept 1998. In and around Ta Shwe Tan village which is one of the positions of poppy cultivation zone, farming and farm management and agricultural products were investigated. In the mountainous area where poppy is cultivated, shifting cultivation is still performed and maize is a main crop. Then we concretely investigated the substitute crops or the animal products with a possibility of becoming the source of an income for local farmers. The road condition from mountainous areas to markets is bad and a passing stop often occurs in the rainy season. Therefore, the raw products which are unable to preserve such as fruit and vegetable have no possibility as cash crops. Medicinal herb is a one of candidates for substitute crop because of its high price with small quantity and dry preservation, however, promising medicinal herb was not found in this survey. While this area is famous for tea production. The Kohkang tea, a semi-fermented tea, may be available as a substitute crop with an improvement of preparing method. Moreover, test cultivation of Japanese buckwheat cultivars was made in several villages as a cash crop suitable for local environment m this area. Local farmers have experience of buckwheat cultivation and sufficient seed yields with standard quality were obtained. If the price negotiation with consumers of Japan and the method of conveying to Yangon are successful, buckwheat may be possible as a substitute crop of opium poppy.