CNI News

4 October 2024

The rainfed paddy yield of Ayeyarwady Region can decrease by 30 percent (1.5 million tons) in comparison with last year, according to the Farmers Development Association. 

When the rainfed paddy was planted this year, low-lying paddy fields were sunk and pests destroyed paddy plants when the paddy was reaped. So, the yield will decrease.

although about 80 baskets of paddy per acre could be produced from the farms that were not sunk, about 40 baskets per acre could be produced from the farms that were sunk and suffered pests, U Thein Aung, former chairman of the Farmers Development Association, told CNI News.

" The regions where paddy fields were mainly damaged in Ayeyarwady Region are Myan Aung, Hinthada, Maubin Districts and Kyaunggon Township in Pathein District. The yield could decrease by about 30 to 35 percent in Ayeyarwady Region." he said.

While cultivation is being conducted on farms in the Ayeyarwady delta region 

There are over 3.7 million acres of rainfed paddy yearly and three to four million tons of paddy can be produced. However, 1.5 million acres of paddy that had been grown were sunk.

Moreover, some farms of paddy were damaged because of shellfish and other pests, U Aye Naing, a farmer from Bogale Township, told CNI News.

" The yield has decreased. Shellfish bites paddy fields in the middle part where there is fresh water and other pests, lower part. If there are 260 acres, about 70 acres were damaged. Pests bite paddy in the lower part where there is salt water. If about 300 baskets are produced as usual, now we get about 150 baskets only." he said.

At present rainfed paddy is being reaped and the price of paddy is 15 lakh kyat per 100 baskets, one lakh more than last year. 

However, because the agricultural cost was high, farmers made a little profits, said farmers.