Research on Substitute Crops of Opium in Kokang, Myanmar

缅甸东部的边境山区以罂粟种植区而闻名。要根除罂粟种植，开发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。对罂粟种植区位置之一的大瑞滩村及其周边地区的种植、农场管理和农产品进行了调查。在种植罂粟的山区，仍实行轮作，玉米是主要作物。在此基础上，我们对有可能成为当地农民收入来源的替代作物或动物产品进行了具体研究。从山区到市场的道路状况很差，雨季经常发生过路。因此，水果、蔬菜等不能保存的原料产品不可能成为经济作物。药材因其价格高、数量少、干燥保存等优点，是替代作物的候选品种之一，但本次调查未发现有发展前景的药材。而这个地区以产茶而闻名。通过改进制备方法，可将半发酵茶作为替代作物。此外，还在几个村庄进行了日本荞麦品种的试种，作为适合该地区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运往仰光的方法成功，荞麦有可能作为罂粟的替代作物。

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.