Myanmar Overtakes Afghanistan as World's Top Opium Producer.

Myanmar has surpassed Afghanistan as the world's largest producer of opium, according to a United Nations report. Opium production in Myanmar has increased by 36% this year, reaching the highest level since 2001. The report attributes this increase to the worsening stability and security in the country since the military coup in February 2021. Poppy cultivation in Myanmar has also seen a significant rise, with 47,000 hectares of land currently under production. In contrast, Afghanistan has experienced a 95% drop in opium output since the Taliban imposed a ban last year. The report suggests that this reduction in opium production could aid the Taliban's efforts to gain international recognition for their regime. The opium industry in Myanmar is primarily focused on the production and trafficking of heroin, with an estimated value of $1 billion to $2.5 billion, accounting for 2%-4% of the country's GDP in 2022. [Extracted from the article]