Arakan farmers struggle to sell glutinous paddy as prices collapse

By Admin 02 Jul 2026

DMG Newsroom

2 July 2026, Ponnagyun

Farmers in Arakan State say they are facing heavy losses as glutinous paddy prices have fallen sharply and buyers have disappeared, leaving large quantities of unsold crops.

Although the United League of Arakan (ULA) is purchasing paddy from local farmers, it is not buying glutinous paddy, causing its market price to decline significantly, farmers said.

"Last year, glutinous paddy sold for more than K1 million per 100 baskets. This year, there are virtually no buyers, and the price has fallen to around K300,000 per 100 baskets," a farmer from Ponnagyun Township told DMG.

Current paddy prices in Arakan State show that high-grade Paw Hsan Hmwe paddy is selling for between K600,000 and K800,000 per 100 baskets.

The ULA has set purchase prices for other paddy varieties, with Indian varieties priced at more than K400,000 to more than K500,000 per 100 baskets, Thai varieties at more than K400,000 to K600,000, Nga Sein at K380,000 to K550,000, and Kauk Kyee at K420,000 to K600,000 per 100 baskets.

However, glutinous paddy has few buyers, with only a small number of brokers purchasing it. In Kyauktaw Township, the price is just over K300,000 per 100 baskets.

"There is a large amount of unsold glutinous paddy in villages across Kyauktaw Township," said farmer U Nyo Maung Hla. "Many farmers grew glutinous paddy because it generated good profits in previous years. Now that there is almost no market, many are suffering significant losses. Unlike ordinary paddy, glutinous paddy is mainly used to make traditional snacks and delicacies."

Farmers said many expanded glutinous paddy cultivation last year because prices had previously reached as high as K1.3 million per 100 baskets.

However, with no functioning paddy market in Arakan State for two consecutive growing seasons, many farmers have been unable to recover their production costs.

"In previous years, glutinous paddy prices were very good, reaching up to K1.3 million per 100 baskets. That encouraged many farmers to switch to glutinous paddy. This year, there is almost no market, and farmers are suffering losses," another farmer in Ponnagyun Township said.

Farmers in Arakan State said the junta's blockade of transport routes since the outbreak of fighting has halted trade with mainland Myanmar and overseas markets, severely affecting agriculture in Arakan State.

They added that rising fertilizer prices, labour shortages, increasing land preparation costs, and the lack of a stable paddy market have forced many farmers to reduce the amount of land they cultivate this season.