Many among the ethnic minorities in the Golden Triangle Area of Myanmar, Laos and Thailand live in poverty because their livelihoods depend on traditional slash-and-burn cultivation and illegal opium production. By seeking feasibility of implementing high-quality coffee production in the area, the survey aims to find out whether such production can be an alternative income source to improve the socio-economic situation of the people in a sustainable manner.
The team carried out the analysis of the current situation of agricultural production in the Golden Triangle Area; detailed study of coffee production and processing with a view to business development; interviews with government officials, farmers, and companies in the Golden Triangle Area; field surveys in the Golden Triangle Area (Myanmar: Pyin Oo Lwin, Naypydaw, and Yangon; Laos: Houayxay, Louang Namtha, Pakse, and Vientiane; Thailand: Bangkok, Chiang Mai, and Chiang Rai); and production of an ODA project proposal.