The acreage of poppy cultivation in Kachin State has increased over the past two years, and the security situation has reduced the ability to destroy it, according to the anti-narcotics groups.

In 2022, 47 acres of poppy cultivation were destroyed in Kachin State. As of February 4, 2023, 80.5 acres were destroyed. The acres that can be destroyed are only in Waingmaw Township, according to the Kachin State Anti-Drug Organization and relevant police records.

An official from the Kachin State Anti-Drug Organization said, “It is true that the poppy cultivation area is increased based on the information we gathered. The fight against this poppy field is not something that the police can do alone. The security situation on the route is not good, but even though plans have been put in place for the Tanai area, it is still not convenient to go. There are about 100,000 kyats per gate for the poppies that come out of this side to go through the gates. As for the opium from North Shan State, Mandalay is their target destination and in there, it was mixed with goods and carried it to Hpakant and Mohnyin markets.”

Those who worked in poppy cultivation said that the price of poppy rose from around 30,000 kyats to more than 60,000 kyats this year.

A person who worked in the poppy cultivation business from the Hsadone area, Waingmaw Township said, "This year is the most successful year in this decade. It's too cold and the yield is good. In one village, about nine out of 10 houses become poppy plantation owners. Some of them have no money and sell the poppies after harvesting. They cut the price by looking at the plant before scraping it. The price in Myitkyina and Waingmaw is already over 80,000 kyats for 2.5 kyattha (about 40.83235 g). The local poppy growers are not able to afford it, and only those who have money make a lot of profit. There are a lot of taxes collected.”

This year, more areas of opium cultivation are seen in Putao, Sumprabum, Tanai, Momauk and Chipwe and due to the change in the political situation in 2021, opium cultivation suddenly increased in Kachin state.

According to records, poppy cultivation suddenly increased after the resumption of fighting between the Tatmadaw and the KIA in Kachin State after 2011.

It is known that the acres of poppy which were destroyed have also increased every year, and 618 acres in 2012-2013 poppy planting season, 492 acres in 2013-2014 poppy planting season, 1,322 acres in 2014-2015 poppy planting season, more than 3,807 acres in 2015-2016 poppy planting season, over 55 acres in 2016-2017 poppy planting season and more than 230 acres in 2019-2020 poppy planting season, were destroyed.

On February 29, 2016, at the first regular meeting of the second Kachin State Parliament, an important proposal was submitted to support the development of the short-term and long-term projects, and this proposal was successful, but the government could not implement it.

Myanmar is the second largest opium-growing country in the world. Starting in 1999, a 15-year drug eradication plan was set, but it failed, and was extended by another five years until 2020.

There are poppy plantations in 10 townships of Kachin State including Kanpaikti, Hsadone, Tanai, Hpakant, Panwa, Chipwe, Banmaw, Sumprabum and Putao.