Buthidaung, Arakan State : The Commander of Nasaka, Burmese border security force area No. 9 of Buthidaung Township paid advance money to  farmers in Buthidaung township since July 15,  to buy paddy for the fiscal year 2008, said a village elder requesting not to be named.

The advance was paid to farmers of Ngaran Chaung and  Kyi Nuthi villages of Buthidaung Township through agents.

The Commander gave Kyat 5 million to Sayed Hussain (40), son of Yakub Ali, Kyat 6 million to Abu Subian (45), and Kyat 4 million to Md. Ismail (42), son of Abdu Shukur in advance to buy paddy from farmers in 2008. The agents belong to Ngaran Chaung village and Gyi Nutthi village under Taung Bazaar of Buthidaung Township , the village elder added.  

Villagers have to give paddy to the Nasaka at the rate of Kyat 1,100 per Taung (one Taung= 14 kg) in 2008. If anyone fails to comply with the order, he/she will be punished by the authorities. But, it is not clear how many "Taungs" villagers have to give per acre.

But the local farmers are worried whether they can comply with the order as during the heavy rains and flood last month, the paddy seedlings were completely destroyed. So, they have to grow new seedlings to grow paddy in their fields within August.  But, the farmers have been facing problems procuring paddy seeds, and the authorities have not taken any initiative on the matter.

One farmer said, "It is good luck for us that the Cyclone Nargis did not hit Arakan State . Or else our situation would have been bad as the authorities did not take the initiative to protect victims."