Poultry farmers struggle amid blockade-induced supply shortages

By Admin 23 Nov 2024

DMG Newsroom
23 November 2024, Mrauk-U

Poultry farmers in Arakan State complain that it has become increasingly difficult to continue their operations despite the fact that eggs are fetching good prices.

Many small-scale agriculture ventures including poultry farms have been forced to cease operations since the latest fighting between Myanmar’s military regime and the Arakkha Army (AA) broke out in November of last year. Farmers who continue operations now face increasing challenges as junta blockades have severely limited the availability of chicks, medicines, and feed. 

“Since the clashes, poultry farming has become nearly impossible. We could no longer order supplies from mainland Myanmar, forcing us to sell all our chickens and shut down,” said Daw Khin Saw Nyo, a poultry farmer from Arakan State’s Pauktaw Township.

An egg sells for 1,200 kyats currently, nearly six times higher than pre-coup levels. However, raw materials are short in supply due to the junta’s travel restrictions.

“Egg prices are good, but production is down,” said Ko Ne Lin Oo, a chicken farmer from Sin Oe Chaing Village in Kyauktaw Township. “About five months ago, I was getting around 1,000 eggs per day. Now it’s only about 400, partly because the chickens are getting older.”

Running a poultry farm involves ordering chicks from markets outside Arakan State and regularly administering medication to prevent diseases. With access to those markets limited, farmers like Ko Ne Lin Oo are watching as their flocks age out of their prime production years. 

Before the latest fighting, a pack of Dinastrong Multivit WS, a type of medicine for chickens, cost 25,000 kyats. It now costs up to 80,000 kyats and is short in supply, according to poultry farmers.