KALADAN NEWS
 
Dated- 20/07/2003, Sun
 
 
BLACK PEPPER CULTIVATION IN NORTH ARAKAN
 
Maungdaw, July 20: On July 3, 2003, the Chairman of the Maungdaw Township Peace 
and Development Council (TPDC) has introduced black pepper cultivation in north Arakan 
and issued an order asking every family to the villagers to plant seedlings of black pepper, 
said a farmer to our correspondent preferring not to refer to his name. 
 
All the villages in Nasaka (Border Security Force) Area No. 4 and No. 5 in Maungdaw 
Township of northern Arakan have been asked to grow at least 20 seedlings of black 
pepper per family, source further added.The Nasak Area No.4 is located at Laikra 
village and No. 5 at Ngakura village, about 19 miles and 12 miles north of Maungdaw 
town respectively.
 
The pepper fields are to be surrounded by fencing for which each family has to buy 30 
bamboos from the Nasaka paying Kyat 3,000/- without exemption. These bamboos
 have been collected from the villagers without any payment, he further said.
 
The Nasaka has provided seedlings to the villagers through respective Village Peace 
and Development Council (VPDC) Chairmen. It has also assigned VPDC members 
for sale and distribution of the seedlings to the villagers. Every family of the villages
is bound to buy at least 20 seedlings at the rate of Kyat 200 each. Non-compliance 
on the part of the villagers is resulted in heavy punishment or a fine up to Kyat 10,000/- 
said another farmer preferring not to mention his name.
 
This is the first time that the villagers in northern Arakan are growing black pepper 
seedlings by the order of SPDC officials. The villagers have no practical knowledge 
of black pepper planting. 
 
According to a politician of Maungdaw Township, this is a device of extortion by 
Nasaka under the pretext of black pepper project. ##