Burma biofuel drive contributes to food shortage


BURMA: A plan by Burma's junta government to grow a biofuel crop is
contributing to food shortages in the country, an Associated Press
report said citing a report released by an activist group linked to
the exile-based opposition.

The biofuel policy is hurting an already ailing agriculture industry,
according to the 48-page report "Biofuel by Decree: Unmasking Burma's
bio-energy fiasco" produced by the Ethnic Community Development Forum.
The report also claimed forced labour is deployed to support the
country's biofuel development and the programme has resulted in an
exodus of some 800 refugees from Burma's state of Shan.

Burma first unveiled its plans to cultivate jatropha, a popular
biodiesel feedstock on seven million acres of land around the country.
The government also plans to build biodiesel processing plants in
each of the seven states and seven divisions. A large portion of the
biodiesel produced is expected to be exported to other countries.

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