Farmers drive a hard bargain

Farmers drive a hard bargain

Drugs

Reporter: Zong Arng

Farmers in Mongpiang, a township 100 km north of the Chiangmai border, has already struck a new deal with the local military authorities to reduce their opium taxes, reported Lahu sources from the border. 

Poppy farmers in Mong Pulong tract in Mongpiang township would now be paying 15% to Infantry Battalion 43 for each viss (1.6 kg) of opium they would be harvesting, instead of 0.25 viss per poppy acre as originally instructed by the local commander last July, they said. 

“We told Hpolu, the local militia leader, on 21 October that the 0.25 viss per acre rate would pose a problem for us if the output turned out to be low,” explained a local farmer. “You can never tell how the weather is going to turn out. A heavy downpour or frost during harvest time can end everything we’ve done.” 

On 29 October, IB 43 officers made an inspection tour of the area and issued their revised instructions. (Re: Farmers to sell only to official purchaser, 14 November)

The army units are hard pressed for raising funds to support themselves under Rangoon’s self-reliance policy, they said.