From Poppy Fields to Coffee Plantations: Nang Htwe's Journey of Transformation in Myanmar's Shan State

For years, Nang Htwe had felt trapped. 

A widowed farmer living in the lush and vibrant Southern Shan State in Myanmar, she believed she had limited options as to what she could profitably grow.  

Reluctantly, she turned to cultivating poppy to keep herself and her three children afloat. “I had no other options besides growing poppy because other crops didn't offer good prices or a stable market," she explained. 

But Nang Htwe never stopped feeling uneasy. She knew that her crops – and those of other poppy farmers – were having detrimental effects on the security, environment, and well-being of her village Pan Lin, which weighed on her conscience.  

A new path 

But in 2014, when the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) introduced an Alternative Development program, Nang Htwe saw a glimmer of hope. Alternative development initiatives seek to provide sustainable livelihoods to communities that cultivate illicit drug crops because they are unable to obtain sufficient income from legal activities due to conflict or lack of markets, basic infrastructure, or land. 

This particular Alternative Development programme was offering poppy farmers the chance to transition to growing coffee. With her 2.5 hectares of land, Nang Htwe embraced the opportunity, envisioning a brighter future for herself and her children.  

Her dedication and hard work soon paid off. In 2022, her coffee plantation yielded an impressive 4800 kg of coffee red cherries, meeting the standards for Fair Trade and Organic certification. Coffee soon became her family’s primary source of income, surpassing earnings from other crops grown by Nang Htwe, like corn. 

The financial stability she had long craved was now at hand. "Before growing coffee, I faced many financial difficulties,” Nang Htwe confessed. “I used to have to go to Thailand to earn money and support my family in times of struggle. “But there are significant benefits in coffee crops,” she continued. “The coffee plantation provides sufficient and stable income. I can support and care for my family safely because I can work right here in my village.” 

 

Accessing a global market  

The impact of UNODC's Alternative Development programme went beyond individual farmers like Nang Htwe. In 2015, the Green Gold Cooperative (GGC) was formed to support coffee farmers in accessing international markets and securing a reliable income.  

Nang Htwe became a proud cooperative member, joining forces with other coffee farmers in Pan Lin. Their collective efforts led to a five-year agreement with Malongo, a coffee company based in France, opening new doors and opportunities for the farmers.  

Nang Htwe's journey as a coffee farmer was not just about financial success. She actively participated in the coffee working group, focusing on coffee processing at the village level. The collective efforts of the coffee working group in Pan Lin led to the village receiving the first prize for coffee quality among 48 other villages.  

As a testament to her dedication and the exceptional quality of her coffee, Nang Htwe was chosen to participate in the launching of the village’s coffee in France.  

Nang Htwe's story is an example of the transformative power of UNODC's Alternative Development program. Through coffee farming, she found financial stability and a renewed sense of dignity, purpose, and empowerment.  

 

Nang Htwe hopes that her journey will inspire other farmers and showcase the untapped potential that lies within each individual.

*This story was originally published on the UNODC Website.