Arakan Farmers’ Union calls for aid to address steep rise in cost of agricultural inputs

By DMG 02 Apr 2022

DMG Newsroom
2 April 2022, Sittwe 

The Arakan Farmers’ Union has called on Myanmar’s military regime to protect the rights of farmers and fulfil their needs during the country’s ongoing economic and political crises. 

Local farmers in Arakan State complain that they have not received agricultural loans in full and therefore could not use fertilisers and pesticides in sufficient quantities this growing season, according to the union’s information officer, U Aung Kyaw Mya. 

“Farmers in Arakan State can’t afford proper input as they don’t get agricultural loans in full. They can’t use fertiliser and pesticide as necessary, and have suffered losses in this current cultivation season,” U Aung Kyaw Mya told DMG.  

The Arakan Farmers’ Union held its second conference from March 28-30 in Myebon, where attendees discussed protection of farmers’ rights, improvement of their living standards and legal issues related to farmland. 

U Aung Kyaw Mya said agricultural practices are also changing due to labour shortages, requiring more capital investment as cattle are replaced with machines. 

“Now, 80 percent of farmers do farming with harvesters. But diesel prices have jumped a lot. Fuel costs have increased from K100,000 to K500,000, and fertiliser costs have also increased from K300,000 to K800,000,” he said. 

Farmers in Arakan State have expressed hope that the union will raise the issue with authorities, and also help them to resolve farmland confiscation issues. 

“I am satisfied that the union has formed a support group to help farmers get back their farms confiscated by the government,” said farmer U Soe Naing from Tein Nyo village in Mrauk-U Township. “I also hope that the union will engage either with the government or international agencies to control the rising prices of agricultural inputs.” 

Acknowledging the financial duress brought on by historically high fertiliser prices, Arakan State’s military government has pledged to provide assistance. 

“The agriculture industry will be hit if fertiliser prices go up further and farmers can’t afford it,” said the Arakan State military council’s commerce minister, U San Shwe Maung. “So, I had a meeting with professors from the Chemistry Department of Sittwe University and state agricultural authorities some three weeks ago about producing organic fertiliser. We are putting together a project.” 

He added: “Organic fertiliser is also being used in Mandalay Region, and we also have a plan to invite a professor from Yadanabon University to discuss how to produce organic fertiliser in Arakan State.” 

The majority of people in Arakan State are engaged in farming for a living.