Regional Overview Figure 10: Partially productive field, Phongsali, <strong>2014</strong>. Figure 11: Healthy <strong>poppy</strong> field, Phongsali, <strong>2014</strong>. 32
2.5. Opium prices In <strong>2014</strong>, the <strong>opium</strong> price in Lao PDR reached US$ 1,855 per kilogram, 39 which represents an increase of less than 1% from its 2013 price. Due to the difficulty of accessing areas where <strong>opium</strong> is grown, it was not possible to collect <strong>opium</strong> farm‐gate prices. However, local authorities continued to collect <strong>opium</strong> prices at the provincial level, usually during the harvest or soon after it. As in previous years, it was not possible to make a clear distinction between wholesale and retail prices in <strong>2014</strong> because <strong>opium</strong> is usually consumed by local <strong>opium</strong> users who purchase it locally. At US$ 625, the lowest price at the regional level was, as in previous years, in Bolikhamxay province, while, at US$ 3,000, the highest price was again in Xiangkhoang province. According to field reports, it is likely that these differences reflect differences in the local availability of <strong>opium</strong>, with <strong>opium</strong> prices in the major <strong>poppy</strong>‐cultivating provinces as follows: Phongsali (US$ 813); Houaphan (US$ 1,325); and Louangphrabang (US$ 1,000). The high price of <strong>opium</strong>, and therefore its high‐income potential, makes <strong>opium</strong> cultivation very attractive to farmers, especially if they have no other options or alternative sources of income. The continued provision of relief and development assistance to those most affected is thus fundamental. Figure 12: Opium prices, Lao PDR, 2002 to <strong>2014</strong> (United States dollars per kilogram) 2,000 1,800 1,600 1,400 1,200 Price of kg <strong>opium</strong>, US$/kg 1,000 800 600 400 200 0 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 <strong>2014</strong> Source: LCDC. 2.6. Opium <strong>poppy</strong> users In <strong>2014</strong>, Lao National Commission for Drug Control and Supervision reported the number of regular <strong>opium</strong> users (“<strong>opium</strong> addicts”) to be 14,600 in 11 provinces. 40 39 Simple average of all provincial prices. Corresponds to Kip 14,840,000; currency conversion rate as provided by LCDC. 40 Borlikhamxay, Bokeo, Houaphanh, Louang Namtha, Luangphrabang, Oudomxai, Phongsali, Vientiane, Xayabuly, Xaysomboun, Xiengkhouang. 33
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