Under-resourced Arakan farmers fret over monsoon paddy harvest

By Admin 11 Nov 2024

DMG Newsroom
11 November 2024, Mrauk-U

Local farmers in Arakan State are lacking in the resources needed to reap paddy during the pending monsoon season harvest.

Farmers had already struggled to grow monsoon paddy due to the high prices of fertiliser and fuel. But their worries are not yet over as harvesters and workers are in short supply while labour costs are high.

Many farmers are worried that they will not be able to make a timely harvest.

“Harvester owners may not run their services due to high fuel prices. I still can’t think up a solution,” said farmer U Hla Thein from Kyauktaw Township.

Farmers said harvesters in use in Arakan State are worn down after years of usage without proper maintenance and repair. But the harvesters cannot be repaired as people cannot get spare parts due to a junta blockade of Arakan State, imposed after fighting between the Myanmar military and Arakkha Army (AA) began anew in November 2023. 

“We would be happy if we could get harvester spare parts or fuel from authorities,” said secretary U Maung Hla Than of the Danyawaddy paddy seed nursery association.

Last year, it cost over 200,000 kyats to harvest an acre of paddy with a harvester. The cost is estimated to rise to 300,000 kyats this year. The labour costs for the harvest are also expected to increase by approximately the same percentage. 

Farmer Daw Zin Yin Nu from Mrauk-U Township said: “I plan to reap with labourers as it seems that I can’t get a harvester easily. The cost of harvesting with a harvester is also high.”

Meanwhile, there is no guarantee for farmers that there will be demand for their rice in Arakan State.

There are more than 1.2 million acres of arable land in Arakan State, but sown acreage and the agricultural industry more broadly has been in decline as many acres of farms have been left idle due to fighting and soaring commodity prices.