Being forced into situations, which reeks of unpleasantness, is part of life under the SPDC military government. In Chin state farmers are being compelled to buy a new variety of rice seeds called ShwezinAye at Kyat 3,750 a tin for cultivation this year.
The number of villagers per village determines the number of tins farmers have to pick up. It could range between 40 to 60 tins a village and has to be bought from the authorities in Falam Township. And it needs to be cultivated in villages near the township.
This month those who did not purchase seeds have been informed by a letter bearing the signatures of the Township Peace and Development Council (TPDC, Land & Revenue Department and Agriculture Department.
The authorities forcing farmers to purchase rice seeds above Kyat 3,500 a tin, tantamount to cheating the poor people when they can buy local rice seeds at Kyat 2,500 a tin, a border visitor said.
Orders to sow the new seed are relevant to other townships also. In Falam Township, directives to sow these seeds have already been given but ironically there is no information about how to cultivate or whether to cultivate in paddy fields on flat land or in the hilly region.
The seeds already purchased will be cultivated in the hilly region because the villages in question have no plain fields. If sowing the new seed yields less crop compared to earlier years given the weather and soil condition, local people are likely to face food shortage next year, a local told Khonumthung News.
This is the first time farmers are being ordered to cultivate a new type of rice by Mr. Zaw Win Htay, Chairman of TPDC of Falam and his council members.
The authorities have not proffered any explanation or information to the people about cultivating the new rice but are forcing people to spend money to purchase it.
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