Orange, tea, and coffee seedlings being stolen in Ywangan

Mekong, September 24 In Ywangan Township, southern Shan State, farmers are facing difficulties due to a series of thefts of orange, tea, and coffee seedlings planted in their fields, according to local farmers. The seedlings were purchased by farmers at a cost for planting, and after being planted in the fields, they are stolen when the plants have grown. In some fields, a large number of seedlings have disappeared at once, and the thieves have dug up the seedlings by the roots, forcing farmers to spend additional time and money to replant them. "We bought the seedlings and planted them. We were very disappointed when they were dug up after the plants had grown well. It costs money to buy and replant them. We can't always have someone watching the fields, so we worry that the seedlings will be gone at night," said a local farmer. Due to the theft of seedlings, farmers now need to constantly monitor their fields, and if they hire laborers to guard the fields, there will be additional expenses, local residents said. Furthermore, farmers said that for perennial crops like oranges, tea, and coffee, which take time to grow, the theft of seedlings can also affect the income they expect in the coming years. "You can't just calculate the value per tree. It takes time to replant and make the trees grow. If they are stolen, not only the cost of the seedlings but also labor and time are lost," said another farmer. Currently, local residents want those who are stealing seedlings to be arrested and punished, and they say that if the thefts continue, the impact on farmers' agricultural businesses could increase.