CNI News

6 December 2024

Paddy fields were sunk in the last rainfed paddy cultivation season due to Yagi storm and the yield was low. 

So, acres of Summer paddy cultivation have become more than last year and there might be three million acres of paddy in the coming Summer paddy cultivation season, according to farmers, estimated the Myanmar Rice Federation.

Although there are normally 17 lakh acres of Summer paddy cultivation each year in Ayeyarwady Region, there might be 20 lakh acres this year;  because rainfed paddy fields were sunk and the current price of paddy is higher, farmers are growing Summer paddy on the farms that were not grown, former chairman of the Farmers Development Association U Thein Aung told CNI News.

"Paddy is grown again on the places where paddy fields were sunk during the rainy season. Summer paddy is grown in the regions where there are a lot of virgin land. Summer paddy is grown more than previous years. The current price of paddy is at least 20 lakh per 100 baskets. And paddy is grown on the places where pulses plantations were destroyed as well. Normally there are 17 lakh acres of Summer paddy cultivation each year, but there might be until 20 lakh acres this year." he said.

While paddy is being threshed

There were 2.45 million acres of Summer paddy cultivation in 2015-16 fiscal year and the cultivation has increased yearly and in the 2024-2025 fiscal year, there might be until three million, according to the MRF.

However, because the prices of fuel oil and fertilizer are higher and the cost for hiring workers was higher as well than last year, the Summer paddy cultivation cost might increase until 300,000 kyats per acre, U Aye Win, a paddy farmer from Danuphyu Township, Ayeyarwady Region, told CNI News.

" Daily wages of a worker were just 10,000 kyats before in growing Summer paddy and but at present, daily wages are 15,000 kyats. The price of diesel was five or six lakh kyats per barrel before. The price of Premium Diesel is about 800,000 kyats this year. The price of Urea fertilizer was 75,000 or 80,000 kyats last year. But this year, the price is over 100,000 kyats. So, in comparison with last year, the cost probably will increase about 300,000 kyats per acre." he said.

Summer paddy is grown most in Ayeyarwady Region where there are 1.7 million acres of cultivation each year, and 250,000 acres of cultivation, in Yangon Region and 50,000 acres in Mandalay Region and over 40,000 acres in Mon State and Summer paddy is grown in other States and Regions as well.