Myanmar returns confiscated land to farmers

YANGON: The Myanmar government has returned 1,997ha more of farmland, confiscated by the Defence Ministry, to 528 farmers in Kanbalu district, Sagaing region. It marks the largest amount of land returned over the last two months, Myanmar News Agency reported.

A ceremony to return the land to the farmers was held on Wednes day in Kanbalu, attended by Second VicePresident U Henry Van Thio, who is also chairman of the Central Committee for Scrutinising Confiscated Farmlands.

Van Thio said the government was working to establish contract farming for farmers to grow, package and trade their produce.

By so doing, he said, farmers would no longer need to sell their land for money.

Myanmar has been taking measures to return seized land to farmers, the original owners.

Under the former government, private companies and government departments could confiscate land in accordance with the 2012 Farmland Law under the pretext of urbanisation and industrialisation.

But land disputes occurred between the government, landowners and investors over ownership.

After taking office in April 2016, the new government voiced commitment to the speedy resolution of farmland confiscation and prompt return of abandoned land to their lawful owners. — Xinhua