Locals in Tanintharyi’s Palaw Twsp face livelihood hardships due to military’s confiscation of snail farms

By DMG 20 Dec 2022

DMG Newsroom
20 December 2022, Palaw, Tanintharyi Region

Locals are facing difficulties doing business about a year after the military seized some 500 acres of land for snail farming in Tanintharyi Region’s Palaw Township.

The snail farms cover more than 500 acres of silt land from the mouth of Palaw Creek to the sea. Residents say the military regime seized the snail farmland in December 2021, claiming to implement a state-owned marine resources project.

“The snail farms have been confiscated by the military for one year. We were not informed in advance about the seizure of the snail farms. The military allowed about three local businessmen to resume snail farming. Many snail breeders lost their snail farms,” said a resident of Palaw town.

“About 500 acres of land for snail farms have been allotted to some local businessmen who have close ties with the military. They [local businessmen] seized silt land and carried out provocative acts against some residents who search for natural snails. Local people are threatened by the military,” said a resident of Pala town.

Under the National League for Democracy (NLD) government in 2017, the Department of Fisheries issued snail farming licences for up to 20 households at 30 acres of land per household, with the licences requiring renewal once a year.

An aquatic products farmer in Palaw Township said snail farming is a local business that earns both domestic and foreign income.

“A kilo of snails is sold for K7,000, or about 100 Thai baht. It is a local business that earns foreign income. The confiscation of snail farming blocks by the military has become a problem for local villagers,” he added.

Snails from Tanintharyi Region are shipped to Thailand, in addition to Mon State and Yangon Region.