By JALOON HTAW- Farmers have reported that the Village Peace and Development Council (VPDC) from townships in Mon State have been collecting paddy and money for army supplies.The VPDC collected one basket of paddy [rice] from farmers at some villages from Ye, Thanphyuzayart, and Mudon Townships, but some villages in Mudon and Chaung Zone had to pay 1,000 kyat per acre of rice paddy.
A female farmer from Naung Gone village, who owns 25 acres, has said that she will not pay for the army supplies when the VPDC comes to collect due to the destruction of her paddy field by rain.
“Maybe others will give money, but I can’t pay. Most of my paddy was destroyed. If [they] want to get it, [I] will give the wet paddy.”
Farmers said that VPDCs throughout Mon state have called meetings for farmers because Township Peace and Development Council (TPDC) ordered the VPDC to collect rice paddy.
Farmers have estimated that they lost about half of their product because of heavy rain between December 10th to 12th in most paddy fields in Mon State.
According to the Land Nationalization Act of 1963, land on which the farmers work does not belong to them, but to the government. Farmers are therefore obligated to give the land that the VPDC demands.
