Poppy farmers point to want of options
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Shan Herald Agency for News
Rising demands on their hard-earned income by the Army that
offer
little or no decent way out have
been blamed by farmers as the reason
for their continued dependency on
poppy cultivation, reports Hawkeye
from the border:
"We Pa-Os used to thrive on the traditional Thanatpet (cheroot leaf)
plantations," said a trader
from Tawngni, eight miles north of
Taunggyi-Shwenyaung road, a
village tract under the control of Pa-O
National Army, officially known as Shan
State Special Region #6. "But
an increasing number of our people
are now engaging in poppy
cultivation, once a taboo among us.
There are at least 15 out of every
100 households in Tawngni alone
(which has 2,065 households) who
either make or supplement their
living by growing opium poppies."
The Thanatpet plant normally has a
20-30 year life expectancy and, in
the past, an agreeable market, both
of which had served its owners
well. However, dwindling prices
coupled with soaring expenditures are
forcing the Pa-Os to give up their
time-honored calling.
As PNA areas have been declared opium-free zones, most
farmers leave
their homes during the annual
season to grow poppies in the
neighboring areas under control
of the Shan State Nationalities
Peoples Liberation Organization, another ceasefire group,
that taxes
10 percent of each field's output. "The Loimai, Loihon and Loimaw
ranges are packed with poppy fields
this time of the year," he
claimed. "The PNA knows we're
here but there is good understanding
between us."
Lahus coming from areas north of
the Monghsu gemland agree.
"Each
household works at least half an
acre there," explained one Lahu
visitor. "Even in the least
productive year, it produces about 0.75
viss (1 viss = 1.6 kg.) which will fetch us at least 75,000 kyat
(US$75). There's no comparison with
other crops."
For example, he said, half an acre of land would produce the
following
incomes with each different crop:
•
•
•
"Moreover, farmers everywhere are being forced to share
their proceeds
with the (
Wa and Lahu
farmers in Mawfah, south of the Wa region, in Mongpiang
township, could not agree more.
In 2003 the Burma Army-controlled area wedged between south
of
Panghsang, the Wa
capital, and the
jackfruit which is just pig-feed
there, while in Kengtung, 65 miles
away, the price was K 5,000 (US$5)
apiece. In October 31, S.H.A.N
report, the alternative is to grow
more poppies in Burma-Army and Wa
controlled areas, the proceeds from
which are used to feed both their
families and the local Army units.
All three areas confirmed an increase in acreage compared to
last
year, though how much is anybody's
guess.
According to the All Burma Students Democratic Front that
has been
monitoring
battalions and 80 artillery
battalions in 2003 from 168 infantry
battalions in 1988.
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