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Why do farmers in Myanmar and Afghanistan grow opium?

Myanmar recently surpassed Afghanistan as the world’s top producer.

Myanmar is now the world's largest producer of opium, overtaking Afghanistan. That’s after the Taliban banned the cultivation of opium poppies, which can be used to make heroin.

Growing opium is illegal in both counties, but that isn’t stopping all farmers from growing the crop.

Yogita Limaye, the ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ’s South Asia and Afghanistan correspondent, explains how the ban has impacted farmers who previously depended on opium to survive. And Soe Win Than, editor of the ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Burmese Service, tells us how corruption and political instability in Myanmar have contributed to the growth in opium production.

Email: whatintheworld@bbc.co.uk
WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6
Presenter: Hannah Gelbart
Producers: William Lee Adams, Baldeep Chahal, Benita Barden
Editors: Verity Wilde and Simon Peeks

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16 minutes

Last on

Thu 21 Dec 2023 03:50GMT

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  • Wed 20 Dec 2023 18:50GMT
  • Thu 21 Dec 2023 03:50GMT

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