CNI News

26 October 2024

Because roads and waterways have been closed down since the end of 2023 in Rakhine State, there is no market for the paddy produced in Rakhine State, said farmers and traders to CNI News. 

Not only is there a lot of rainfed paddy grown last year left, a lot of rainfed paddy grown this year could be left as well because it woll be harvested soon.

In the past, the paddy produced in Rakhine State is consumed in Rakhine State. Moreover, the Rakhine paddy is often exported to other regions and states. Besides, rice produced in Rakhine State was exported to Bangladesh. 

However, now there is no market where Rakhine paddy and rice can be exported, secretary of the Mrauk U Township Danyawady Farmers Federation, U Maung Thein Hla told CNI News.

While farmers were growing paddy

" The route going to the mainland has been closed down for a long time. Because there is no flow of goods, the goods here in Rakhine can't go to anywhere. Next, as people can't go to Sittwe and Kyauk Phyu, the people in these towns have to be eating the rice coming from Pathein. So, there are a lot of paddy grown in Mrauk U and Kyauktaw. The paddy is more than local consumption. Moreover, the paddy that has been grown currently will appear soon." he said.

Farmers in Rakhine State are facing difficulties because they can't sell their paddy and they are finding it difficult to go on growing paddy. 

In the past Rakhine farmers were able to sell their paddy at 16 to 30 lakh kyats per 100 baskets each year, but now they can sell their paddy at over 10 lakh kyats per 100 baskets. 

However, There were almost no buyers currently, added U Maung Thein Hla.

While a farmer is ploughing with a tractor (photo-Shine Bu Shay)

" At a time like this, paddy has been scarce and bags of rice could be exported to the mainland. But there is no buyer now. The price is almost giveaway. The price of Aemahta is about 10 lakh kyats per 100 baskets and Pawsan, 13 lakh kyats." he said.

Rainfed paddy is grown most in Kyauktaw and Mrauk U, Rakhine State and its cultivated area was over 10 lakh acres last year, but this year just over 6 lakh acres. 

However, it is difficult to sell the paddy that had been grown. 

So, most of Rakhine farmers are hoping to sell their paddy to the mainland and foreign countries.