Chin state authorities have imposed a tax on the cultivation of Gamoan, which is akin to ginger but derived from the orchid and lily families. Local people in Chin state grow asGamoanas a cash crop.
“Gamoan is planted on hillsides like paddy. Tax is being collected for cultivation of a cash crop farmers need to support themselves,” said a local from Paletwa Township, Chin state.
Mr. SoeThein, the head of the Forest Department and township administrator instructed his second lieutenants,LawmKhu Na and ShweKyaw, to collect the tax on Gamoan. Tax collection began from 19 March 2012 in the region.
“Tax is being collected on Gamoan at 25 percent per two kilograms in the village of Kungpin, of Paletwa. We have two Gamoan collectors and the authorities collect 30,000 Kyats per head from the harvesters.
Gamoan sells for 2000 Kyats per two kilos in the local market,”a local said.
In Paletwa area,Gamoan cultivation is common, and the previous regime collected taxes illegally leading to people suffering from starvation in the region.
Critics of the tax say the new government is also burdening farmers with an illegal tax.
Gamoanalso growsnaturally in the forests. Local people collect it to sell to buyers, who in turn sell to China through Pakkuku and Mandalay, without paying any taxes to the Burmese government.
