In a move to eradicate opium cultivation, the Chin state government proposed to replace poppy plantations in Tonzang Township, an area known for its concentration of poppy fields, with other kinds of crops. Since July 20, authorities have been making a list of farmers to be recipients of alternative crop plantation loans.
“It is a good move by the government,” said an elder in Tonzang town, where about 50 people own poppy plantations.
Interest on the loan will be about 1.5 Kyat and repayment will be spread out over seven years. More than 4,000 people have already enrolled to get a loan.
“We don’t know when the loan will be available, but applications are still being received,” said a local.
Meanwhile, the Chin state government is planning to provide loans to the tune of Kyat 7 lakhs per acre for cultivation of East Indian arrowroot and Kyat 4 lakhs per acre for the herb Parkia-Roxburghii.
“These are the government’s current programmes,” said a local.
The current market price of green arrowroot is 300 Kyat per kilogram, while dry arrowroot sells for 1,000 Kyat per kilogram. A Parkia Roxburghii tree can cost between 10,000 and 15,000 Kyat, and its fruits fetch 1,000 Kyat per kilogram.
Although the state government plans to provide loans for agricultural plantations, as of yet there is no detailed information on the loan scheme.
