Local resistance against Chinese and Kachin joint-venture agribusiness investment on banana plantation: a case study of Mukchyik Village, Kachin State, Myanmar

Abstract

In Myanmar, the proliferation of Chinese agricultural investments, particularly in tissue-culture banana plantations, has been notably concentrated in Kachin State, the northernmost region bordered by China and India. Over the past decade, this influx of Chinese investment has led to large-scale and smaller instances of forceful land grabbing, resulting in significant loss of livelihoods, environmental degradation, and burgeoning resentment within the local communities, thereby fueling conflict in the region. This research delves into the factors driving the expansion of banana plantations in Kachin State, focusing on the “joint-venture” nature of Chinese investments and employing the concept of “land acquisition.” The study meticulously examines the process of land acquisition and the tactics utilized by investors in securing land for tissue-culture banana plantations in Kachin State. To dissect these tactics, the "powers of exclusion" framework is applied, particularly in a case study analysis of Mukchyik village, to scrutinize the strategies investors use to expropriate land from local communities. Moreover, the roles of local middlemen, ethnic armed organizations such as the Kachin Independence Organization, and local government officials are explored to comprehend the intricacies of the land acquisition process. This exploration seeks to uncover the multifaceted and often opaque interactions that facilitate or obstruct the encroachment of banana plantations. Additionally, employing the concept of social movements, this study investigates the resistance mounted by local communities against joint-venture investments in banana plantations within Waingmaw Township at the grassroots level. This analysis illuminates the resistance strategies employed by local communities and the political dynamics that influence the success or failure of such movements. The involvement of religious institutions, civil society organizations, and local authorities is also scrutinized to understand how these entities mobilize and sustain community efforts in opposition to the spread of tissue-culture banana plantations. Through this comprehensive study, the impact of foreign agricultural investments on local communities in Myanmar’s Kachin State is critically assessed, offering insights into the socio-political and environmental ramifications of such ventures.