ミャンマ-・コ-カン地域におけるケシの代替作物に関する農学的総合調査

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.