‘We do this to survive’: Harvesting opium poppies in Myanmar’s Shan State

Women shield themselves from the sun with scarves and straw hats as they harvest opium poppies in southern Shan State, Myanmar [Fabio Polese/Al Jazeera]

Southern Shan State, Myanmar – Tian Win Nang squats on the hard-packed earth, balancing a kilogramme (2.2 pounds) of chocolate-coloured raw opium in each hand like a human weighing scales.

“Each kilogramme is worth around $250,” said Tian Win Nang, wearing worn white flip-flops and a black T-shirt.