CNI News
16 May 2024
As many Rakhine farmers had to run away due to battles and there are difficulties to get fertilizers and fuel, the cultivation of the rainfed rice will decline, according to farmers.
Although there were over 11 lakh acres of rainfed rice cultivation in the past, there were only over 8 lakhs last year for many reasons. This year, there are only about 6 lakh acres of rainfed rice, estimated farmers and agricultural entrepreneurs.
Rice can be grown in Mrauk U and Kyawtaw Townships where there are no battles.
Farmers in Sittwe, Ponnagyun, Rathedaung, Buthidaung and Maungdaw Townships have to displace due to battles; artillery shells falling down and explosion in farmlands and due to mine hazards, farmers could not grow rice, U Maung Thein Hla, secretary of the Danyawady Farmers Federation, Mrauk U Township, told CNI News.
" According to the township statistics, there are 110,000 acres of rainfed rice cultivation in the entire Rakhine State. Farmers could grow rice on over 800,000 acres last year, but this year, 600,000 acres at most. The townships where rice is grown most are Mrauk U and Kyauktaw and there are no battles there as well. Rice cannot be grown in Ponnagyun. The situations in Rathedaung, Buthidaung and Maungdaw are getting worse. The people from 50 villages had to displace. They can't think about growing rice. We can do nothing in Sittwe Township. Artillery shells fall down in Pauktaw Township and there are mine hazards as well. No one clears them. Some farmers could not even reap rainfed rice last year." he said.
While seeing the AA force
Rice can be grown on 100,000 acres each in Mrauk U and Kyauktaw Townships and just on a few acres in Minbya, Ponnagyun and Rathedaung Townships reportedly.
Because the flow of goods into Rakhine State has been closed, prices of inputs such as fuel and fertilizer necessary for growing rice are so expensive that it is difficult to buy them.
Some farmers don't have enough capitals and seeds to sow, U Kyaw Hla, a Rakhine farmer, told CNI News.
" Some farmers have rice that they harvested last year, but they can't sell it. Because of difficulties to get fuel and fertilizer, any farmer hasn't made a decision to grow rice again. Some farmers don't even have seeds to sow." he said.
Although the price of gasoline was about 500,000 kyats per barrel last year in Rakhine State, the current price is over 1,800.000 kyats per barrel; the price of fertilizer is 100,000 to 200,000 kyats per bag and it is too difficult to buy them reportedly.
Because input prices are skyrocketing, the cost for growing rice also will be higher. Although it cost a farmer about 500,000 kyats to grow rice on an acre in the past, it would cost about 1,000,000 kyats this year, said farmers.
