CNI News
9 September 2023
Because Myanmar's agricultural industry is unstable in the market, fatigue and agricultural failure, many Myanmar people have changed workplace, going abroad for work after leaving farmlands, which cause the problem of farm labor shortage.
Although Myanmar agricultural sector has been changed from manual farming to mechanized farming system, Myanmar farmers are using only farm labors because they are not able to widely use necessary mechanic equipment.
The consequence of the problem of farm labor shortage is not obvious for the time being, but in the long run, it can threaten domestic food security, said Ko Zaw Min Naing, an agricultural and economic advisor, to CNI News.
" Due to the shortage of labor, farmers can't clear the weed very well, feed the fertilizer and transplant paddy. So, they are unable to cultivate fully. According to the current political situation, youths are more interested in better job opportunities and well-paid jobs. The production of agricultural sector will decrease. And then, the amount of export will decline. And then foreign income will be less. In the end, it can threaten the domestic food security." said Ko Zaw Min Naing.
Moreover, the price of agricultural machinery is so high that farmers cannot buy them. If they buy the machineries by instalment, it is not easy like before, according to farmers. And service businesses that rent out the agricultural equipment are almost none.
Those who are transplanting paddy
So, the government should support the farmers with agricultural machineries, pointed out farmers. Due to the scarcity of labors, he was hiring labors only after providing them with their necessities, said U Aung Kyaw Mya, a farmer from Rakhine State, to CNI News.
" Farm labors want to work in the nearby farms. They worked eight hours a day in the past. But now they work seven hours a day. Agricultural machines are so high that we can't buy them in cash. It will be more convenient if the government can perform to enable the farmers to use the machines smoothly." said U Aung Kyaw Mya.
The relevant departments should find the answer to both the problem of labor shortage and the reason why the farm labors deserted the farmlands, said Ko Zaw Min Naing, an agricultural and economic advisor, to CNI News.
" In some foreign countries, for example, even in Thailand, AI technology is being used such as spreading pesticide and herbicide on the plantations. If they are worked manually, it is very dangerous to man. We still need humans. There are some parts that human will do. But if we have enough machines, because the demand for labor is no longer so great, we will be able to promote the production." said Ko Zaw Min Naing.
After the political change, many Myanmar youths have changed to well-paid workplaces, including going abroad for work after deserting farmlands reportedly.
Due to not only the labor shortage but also being unable to cultivate because of instabilities, the paddy yield declined last year. So, the people are suffering from very high prices of rice at present.
