Vietnam reduces opium poppy fields
HANOI - Vietnam has reduced its
opium-producing poppy fields by 97 percent over the past
decade under a government eradication program, an
official said Wednesday.
Just over 1,000 acres are now used to grow poppies
compared to about 47,000 acres in 1992-93, said Hoang
Van Dong, director of the Ministry of Agriculture's
Department of Settlement and Crop Stability.
"The fight against opium planting has been successful,
with 97 percent of the growing areas in over 800
communes eliminated," he said. The 800 communes
represent nationwide production.
Opium -- the milky substance drained from the poppy
plant -- is converted into heroin and sold in Europe and
North America.
Officials say, however, that opium poppies are still grown
in the northern provinces of Son La, Lai Chau, Ha Giang
and the central province of Nghe An.
Between 1992 and 2000, Vietnam invested $22 million in
its drug control program, including $7.8 million for poppy
eradication. At times, military troops were sent in to
destroy poppy crops.
As part of the program, farmers were given financial
incentives to replace poppies with cinnamon, anise, tea,
fruit trees and drought-resistant rice.
In addition, the U.N. Drug Control Program gave $3.8
million to fund a similar program in Nghe An province.
In spite of its success in poppy reduction, Vietnam faces
problems with spiraling addiction and its role as a major
transit route for heroin and opium trafficking from
neighboring countries.
Vietnam has toughened its penalties on drug crimes since
1997, applying the death penalty for possession, trading
or trafficking of more than 3.5 ounces of heroin or 11
pounds of opium.
The Associated Press - February 21, 2001.
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