CNI News

21 September 2024

Because plantation acres were damaged by million throughout the country due to flood, rice export should be weighed and conducted after laying down an appropriate policy, businessmen and agricultural advisors told CNI News. 

Although the plantations that were damaged would not impact on the rice market to be exported, it could impact on the rice market within months to come, U Aung Pyit Sone, a businessman, told CNI News.

" Because of the plantations that were damaged recently, the rice market to be exported could not be affected. But it can affect the rice market within 6 or 7 months to come. The rice that will gain from currently planted rainfed paddy will be sent to the market. If the rice was to be exported, four to six months later, the government should control the rice export after laying down a policy. While the cultivated acres are being fixed, only if the government can control the rice export, will the domestic rice market be stable." he said.

While rice was being exported

Because foreign currency could be earned from exporting rice, it was impossible to stop exporting rice; but according the current situation, the priority must be given to the domestic food security, pointed out agricultural experts. Because there is demand for rice from abroad, only after the domestic demand has been met, rice export should be conducted, Ko Zaw Min Naing, an economic advisor, told CNI News.

" Because of natural disaster that took place recently, the priority must be given to the domestic food security, I think. In the situation like this, it's very challenging to export Myanmar rice, I think. It will become questionable if there is enough rice within the country. Moreover, rice was produced in Kachin State in the past. In Shan State as well, Shan rice is produced. Demand for rice is high in other regions that don't produce rice. Now, both Kachin and Shan States are flooded. The paddy yield is seriously affected. So, demand for rice will be high, which can be said without seeing the data." he said.

Due to flood, Kalaw Town was being sunk

Although rice and paddy warehouse entrepreneurs and merchants were asked to register in the past, now all the rice shops including small ones must register for storage permit reportedly.

Asking to register like this was because the government wanted to know exactly the amount of rice that had been stored and in comparison with the reserve rice, it was likely to weigh the domestic food security.

According to the Ministry of Commerce, Myanmar rice was exported for 500 million dollars until January this year.