Farmers meet with government officials to hammer out issues over land tenure.

In the first meeting of its kind, farmers from southern Shan State discussed land grievances with government officials in Taunggyi; the capital of Shan State.

Farmers from Kunghing, Mongpan, Lamkho, and Mongnai Townships are affected by many of the same issues, said Nang Mya Lay. Their paddy fields are located near government managed forests; they face dwindling prices for produce; difficulties with transportation; and get poor compensation for confiscated lands.

Nang Wah Nu, director for Thousand Islands Foundation, and one of the main facilitators for the meeting said they hoped to reduce misunderstanding between the government and farmers, and at the same time find solutions for the problems.

“I don’t expect we will get complete solutions for all the stakeholders in this meeting. At least they will understand the strengths and weaknesses of both sides, and I hope they will cooperate to solve problems in the future,” Nang Wah Nu said.

U Sai Lon Kyaw, Agriculture and Livestock minister for Shan State, said: “Some problems are solvable but some are not. But the government will carry out in line with law and procedure. I would like to say that farmers should understand us because we can’t solve some problems by interfering with the procedures of different governmental departments.”