Farmers in Burma by and large failed to reap the rewards of did not translate to a higher standard of living for Burmese people. The vast majority went from “being poor in a poor country [to being] poor in a rich one.” Control over the economy passed from the hands of native people to that of immigrants and non-resident lenders. Foreign investors acquired a monopoly on the flow of goods. Milling, storage, transportation, and port facilities all fell under control of this oligarchy. Meanwhile local people bore the burdens of development without reaping the rewards. The sudden transition to private ownership resulted in the dissolution of communities. Farmers were no longer accountable to local community in the development or sale of land. This resulted in widespread alienation. A great deal of land fell into the hands of Chettiyars from southern India, who amassed huge estates. Others lost their land through a cycle of debt and repossession. Loans had become a key aspect of the agricultural cycle.