The Burmese military junta has ordered farmers in Dawhpumyang branch-township in Burma's northern Kachin state to sell 5,000 Tins (Burma's standard unit of measurement of rice is 1 tin = 10.5 kg) of rice to the military authorities through the branch-township administrative office or branch-township peace and development council (Ma Ya Ka), said local farming sources. The order has been implemented in these areas since early this month.
Location of Dawhpumyang in Kachin State, northern Burma.Farmers in the branch-township were informed by their village administrative offices or village peace and development council (Ya Ya Ka). Dawhpumyang is a branch-township of Momauk (N'Mawk) township in Bhamo (Manmaw) District in Kachin state, said locals.
Farmers in Lajayang village, near the Sino-Burma border in the branch-township said that they have been told to sell paddy to the Burmese military at 3,000 Kyat (US $2.7) per Tin where they stand to lose for they can sell for over 4,000 Kyat (US $3.8) per Tin to Chinese customers on the border.
"Actually, we don't want to sell paddy to the ruling junta because of the low price. But, we are forced to sell to them in accordance with the order."
On the other hand, the paddy prices have dropped sharply and touched between 1,000 Kyat and 3,000 Kyat in Kachin state, said local farming sources.
In Waingmaw Township, most farmers do not sell paddy to markets outside because the paddy prices are extremely low. However they have to sell "dutiful-paddy" to the ruling junta at 3,000 Kyat per Tin.
Farmers in Waingmaw and Dawhpumyang said that they do not receive any support from the ruling junta each year and the lowest cost per acre of paddy from growing to harvesting is over 90,000 Kyat (US $8).
Last year, the paddy prices rose from 4,000 Kyat per Tin to 7,000 Kyat (US $6.2) per Tin, according to farmers in Waingmaw.
Meanwhile, the junta has released an order that the owners of paddy fields near the government Washong Irrigation in Waingmaw have to grow summer rice compulsorily at their own cost, according to local farmers.
The junta said Kachin state produces the second largest quantum of rice in the country and 60 percent of the country's population, accounting for 47 million are farmers.
