CNI News

6 June 2024

Rainfed rice cultivation in Ayeyarwady Region might increase from last year reportedly from the Farmers Development Association. 

Because rainfed rice was being grown in 20 townships including Bogale, Dedaye and Mawlamyine Townships where in the past only summer rice was grown, rainfed rice cultivation area could reach until 3,700,000 acres, U Thein Aung, chairman of the Farmers Development Association, told CNI News.

" Rainfed rice cultivation area in Ayeyarwady Region may increase from last year because farmers from the places where only summer rice was grown came to grow rainfed rice. Rainfed rice was being grown in 20 townships at least including Bogale, Dedaye and Mawlamyine Townships where in the past only summer rice was grown. So, rainfed cultivation acres probably will reach until 3,700.000, I think." he said.

Farmers in some townships in Ayeyarwady Region have started ploughing to grow rainfed rice. However, farmers from other townships have not been able to plough because the prices of hand held tractors are skyrocketing.

While a farmer was ploughing

So, rainfed rice cultivation might be late in some townships. Rainfed rice cultivation could save about 200,000 kyats because rainfed rice cultivation doesn't need to use a lot of inputs such as fertilizer and pesticide like the summer rice cultivation does, according to farmers.

However, because gold snails that bite and cut paddy were rampant in some townships, it might cost farmers more for pesticide, U Aye Naing, a farmer from Bogale Township, told CNI News.

Although organizations, associations and companies are providing loans for rainfed rice, just a few farmers draw the loans because the prices of last summer rice were good. The price of coarse rice paddy was 20 lakh kyats per 100 basket, and that of fine rice paddy, 28 to 30 lakh kyats.