Yangon: A soon-to-be released survey reveals military-ruled Myanmar has dramatically slashed illegal opium production, the Myanmar Times said.

The joint United States and Myanmar Government survey found that opium production had fallen by 39 percent from the previous growing season, from 484 tonnes to 292 tonnes, according to the semi-official weekly to be published Monday.

The results of the survey — compiled in March — are expected to be formally announced later this month, including figures which show opium was grown on 30,888 hectares, down from 47,130 hectares during the same period, a drop of 34 percent, reported the weekly.

A government spokesman told the newspaper that a joint survey conducted by the junta and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime between January and March was expected to show an even bigger decline in opium production.

The United Nations has praised Myanmar’s efforts to eradicate opium. However, the United States warned in March that while Myanmar had cut poppy cultivation it remained the world’s second-ranked supplier of the drug from which derivatives such as heroin are made.

Thailand also said earlier this year that it was considering building a high-security fence along its border with Myanmar in a bid to stop smugglers trafficking illegal drugs into the kingdom.