Opium poppy cultivation was found in five of the six provinces surveyed. The total area under opium poppy
cultivation in the Lao PDR in 2007 is estimated at 1,500 hectares. This is a decrease of 40 percent compared
to 2006 (2,500 ha) and lowest level since 1998 when opium poppy cultivation culminated at 26,600 ha.
The average national opium yield potential for 2007 was estimated at 6 kg/ha. In 2007, weather conditions
were average to poor for opium poppy cultivation. The field assessments of standing opium revealed that
crop vigor was worse than in previous years, even though some farmers tried to irrigate their opium poppy
fields. Based on the estimated area under cultivation, the 2007 potential production of opium was 9.2 mt,
which is a 54 percent decrease from 2006.