The Burmese military authority from Rangoon ordered all army battalions in Arakan State to cultivate Physic nuts from this year dry season to promote state income through this agriculture project, said army personnel.

In the order, at least 35 acres of farms will be cultivated by per battalion where each battalion will have to cultivate 1200 plants per acre.

Following the authority’s order, the army authorities confiscated several farms near the army cantonment after the army official’s examination of the land. Several farms in Arakan state including several arecas of farms nearby Ramaung Bridge in Minbya were confiscated by army authorities recently for this agriculture project.

Moreover, a number of townships in Arakan including Sittwe, Rathidaung, Buthidaung, Kyauktaw and Mrauk U are also facing the problem of land confiscation by the Burmese army, said a primary teacher.

In Arakan State, there are 43 light infantry battalions and 10 other army headquarters including west command and one artillery battalion.

Burmese army has already confiscated a large section of land from Arakan people to cultivate rubber, teak, pepper and rice before the new Physic nut endeavor.