Residents returning to Hsawng Pyaung village in Pang Laung (Pinlaung) Township, southern Shan State, say landmines left behind from earlier fighting are preventing them from resuming farming, threatening their livelihoods nearly a year after their return.

The village was abandoned in 2024 when clashes broke out between military forces, the Pa-O National Organization (PNO) militia, and Karenni-allied resistance groups. Residents began returning in June 2025, but many say they still cannot safely access their farmland.

“It has been nearly a year since we returned. There are areas where we cannot farm because of landmines,” a local man told SHAN. “We only plant in areas close to the village where we believe it is safe. If we don’t work, we have nothing to eat.”

Agriculture is the main source of income in Hsawng Pyaung, where farmers typically grow upland rice, corn, and oilseeds during the June–July planting season. However, large sections of farmland remain unusable due to landmines and unexploded ordnance.

Residents say the lack of access to land has made recovery difficult after years of displacement.

“For two years, we had to flee during the planting season. Even now, we cannot fully return to farming,” the man said. “We are managing day by day, partly with support from others.”

Villagers say no authorities have arrived to assess or clear landmines in the area, leaving communities to navigate the risks on their own.

Hsawng Pyaung is home to more than 600 households. During the conflict, residents were displaced to nearby villages as well as towns, including Pang Laung and Taunggyi. Local sources report that around 50 houses were destroyed during fighting in 2025, while the village school and monastery were also damaged.

Although residents have returned, insecurity remains. The road connecting Pang Laung–Hsawng Pyaung–Pai Khun (Pekon) is currently controlled and used by military forces and PNO units, while clashes continue in parts of western Pekon Township.

Residents say that without landmine clearance and improved security, rebuilding livelihoods will remain slow and uncertain.