CNI News

12 Nov 2022

The contract farming system should be implemented effectively in cooperation with farmers, peasant unions and activists told the CNI.

Although the contract farming system is being implemented in Ayeyarwady Region at the moment, lack of proper approach has posed difficulties for farmers, according to peasants in the region.

The current contract farming system amounts to forcing farmers to sell their crops to companies that provided seeds and fertilizers, Chairman U Thein Aung of Farmers' Development Association told the CNI.

  A farmer plowing in the Bagan area.

He said, "Contract farming calls for proper implementation. The so-called contract farming in our country is just a semi-contract farming system. Acutally, contract farming means inputs and services including ploughing must be provided by the company, according to the international procedure. However, our farmers had to plough the land and as a result, they had to pay for fuel and labour costs by themselves. The so-called contract farming system is just that they will sell fertilizers and seeds to farmers, who will have to sell their crops to the companies."

Under the contract farming system applied in the international community, companies are required to provide fertilizers, seeds, fuel, labour costs, threshing and marketing activities, according to farmers.

Myanmar Rice Conference in progress in 2022.

Therefore, it is necessary for the government to adopt policies on contract farming and construct buildings to store grains and export them for companies, according to U Thein Aung.

The contract farming is mainly implemented in Ayeyarwady Region and it is being implemented on only a few acres of land in other states and regions.

Currently, farmers have seen their capital investments dwindle and hope for a proper contract farming system that can provide technologies, investments and guarantees, Chairman U Kyaw Zan of All-Rakhine State Peasants Union told the CNI.

A farmer carrying seedlings.

He said, "We promote contract farming. However, as the system is being implemented by people from the mainland, local residents are worried about it. Companies that engage in contract farming are required to provide technologies, investments and guarantees. Farmers are in a position to welcome them if the companies promise to provide them with such needs."

At present, the cultivating acreage of rice paddy is falling while the per-acre-yields are dropping because of the higher costs of fertilizers, according to farmers, who also call on the authorities to allow them to buy inputs through the BNPL system.

CNI News

11 Nov 2022

As Myanmar has signed an MOU to export fishery products to Russia through the G-to-G system, the country is eyeing to mainly export Panamei white shrimp to Russia, Vice Chairperson Daw Toe Nandar Tin of the Myanmar Fisheries Federation told the CNI.

Russia has offered to import Panamei white shrimp from Myanmar, according to Daw Toe Nandar Tin.

She said, “It is a species of saltwater white shrimp known as Panamei. They have fish for such seafoods but they cannot raise the white shrimp because it is too cold in their country. I visited the country to study the market. So, I told them that we can export the shrimp to them. So, we will be able to mainly export the shrimp to them because we always breed white shrimp and export them for a long time. If they can accept the protocol we propose, we can export the shrimp at once. It only depends on the buyer from their side and seller from our side. We just need to negotiate the production and demand.”

Natural white shrimp in Myeik.

Although the two governments have signed an MOU to trade through the G-to-G system, there remain many issues including the currencies to be used in trading between them.

Panamei white shrimp is a major product of the Myeik Archipelago and shrimp-breeding in the area can be expanded, Secretary U Thet Soe of the Tanintharyi Region Fisheries Federation told the CNI.

“If we can penetrate into their market, shrimp breeding farmers will be able to expand their business and job opportunities will be created for local people. The government will get more revenue. It will be the first time Myanmar penetrates into the Russian seafood market on a trial basis. China imports the white shrimp through the G-to-G system. If we can export the shrimp to China directly, we will get more income. We can get higher prices. Now, we are exporting the shrimp through brokers and cannot get as higher prices as we want. The Chinese Commercial Counsellor will come to Myeik tomorrow for negotiations to export the shrimp from Myanmar to China directly. Chinese experts will also visit Myeik to scrutinize the GACC. If they approve, we will be able to export white shrimp to China directly. The Chinese market is a huge market.”

Currently, Panamei white shrimp fetch as much as US$ 6,000 per ton in China.

 Kyunsu shrimp breeding farm.

Panamei white shrimp are bred in more than 2,000 acres of land in Tanintharyi Region and plans are underway to expand the white shrimp breeding on 60,000 acres of land in Dawei, Myeik, Bokepyin and Kawthaung districts.

If standards are met in breeding, Panamei white shrimp can be exported to Thailand certainly, Daw Toe Nandar Tin Told the CNI.

“She said, “We have already approved the deal and the protocol. We have shrimp-breeding ponds and processing factories. If they approve the protocol, we can export the shrimp immediately. As the protocol is being used in exporting the shrimp to China, Russia can also approve it. Such systems are in place in our country. In the past, the EU inspected our farms and processing factories and issued approvals. If our farms and processing factories meet their standards, we can export our shrimp to other countries.”

Currently, Myanmar is exporting fishery products to more than 40 countries including the EU and earned US$ 407 million in 2022-23 fiscal year, according to the Ministry of Commerce

CNI News

11 Nov 2022

The demand for rubber in the domestic market has grown recently, increasing the prices, according to plantation owners and entrepreneurs.

In recent days, the prices of rubber have risen to MMK 1,330 per Lb, Ma Ei, a rubber grower in Dawei Township in Tanintharyi Region, told the CNI.

She said, “Rubber prices have increased a little during recent days because of the growing demand. When the market opened this week, the prices rose from MMK 1,250 to 1,330 gradually. At this time of the year, we can collect a large volume of latex. So, the prices do not normally rise during this season. However, rubber prices are fluctuating wildly this year. Last week, rubber prices fell dramatically and we could not get profit due to higher production costs. So, we just stored our rubber. Now, we are selling our stocks as the prices have increased,”

 Drying raw rubber. (WWF)

Rubber prices in Myanmar change based on prices in the international rubber market and US$ exchange rates in the market, according to rubber entrepreneurs.

The current growing demand for rubber was attributed to entrepreneurs and merchants who store rubber.

However, some rubber merchants are trying to purchase rubber from growers at lower prices due to higher labour and processing costs resulting from skyrocketing fuel prices, U Phone Myint, a rubber entrepreneur from Paung Township in Mon State, told the CNI.

He said, “ Compared with the previous year, the prices have risen by MMK 200 per Lb. However, labour and fuel costs have risen significantly. So, buyers were forced to purchase rubber from plantation owners at lower prices. They set the purchasing prices at MMK 1,100 per Lb to save MMK 200 for them.

 Transporting rubber raw materials. (WWF)

As the cultivation of rubber has increased this year, rubber exports are likely to rise, Secretary U Myint Khaing of the Myanmar Rubber Planters and Producers Association told the CNI.

He said, “It is difficult to predict exactly due to frequent changes of policies. However, rubber yields have increased due to newly matured plantations. I think rubber exports will grow significantly. Our country has 850,000 acres of rubber plantations we have already collected latex. Now, there are another 850,000 acres of rubber plantations we can start collecting latex. So, the yields will be higher thanks to newly matured plantations."

Rubber trees are mainly grown in Mon State, Tanintharyi Region and Shan State in Myanmar.

Myanmar grows rubber trees on 1.6 million acres of land and latex has already been collected from about 850,000 acres.

CNI News

11 Nov 2022

Political parties’ working group the Union Peace Dialogue Joint Committee has called on the State Administration Council for amendment of over 70 sections of the 2008 Constitution.

The National Solidarity and Peace-making Negotiation Committee held negotiations with the political parties’ working group of the UPDJC on 28th October.

Daw Cho Cho Kyaw Nyein, a representative of the working group, told the CNI that she had called for an end to reserving 25 percent of parliament seats for military personnel in future parliaments.

She said, “I called for an end to reserving 25 percent of parliamentary seats for military personnel in the future parliaments if federal democracy governments are to be formed. I was not calling on them to withdraw from parliament overnight because the political situation is very complicated. The military is an indispensable institution in a country. So, I called on them for their reduced presence in the parliament by percentage.

  Members of the NSPNC.

As the constitution must be amended at the parliament, the working group might have been discussing the proposed amendments, Chairman U Thar Tun Hla of the Arakan National Party told the CNI.

He said, “We don’t know their working procedures exactly. As far as I know, they were just discussing the proposed amendments and no significant agreements have been reached. However, the constitution can only be amended at the parliament. They might have been talking about it.”

Among the over 70 proposed amendments, the military reportedly agreed to revise Section 261 of the constitution.

 A meeting between the NSPNC and political parties’ working group of the UPDJC.

Spokesperson Naing Than Shwe of the Mon Unity Party told the CNI, “There has been a large number of proposed amendments. Even our party submitted a research paper on constitutional amendments. Under the current circumstances, we have to submit proposed amendments to the UPDJC. I don’t remember exactly because there were too many proposed amendments. We will have to discuss with other political parties when we return from the working group meeting.”

The UPDJC is made up of 16 representatives from the government, the parliament and the military, 16 representatives from signatory EAOs to the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement and 16 representatives under the NCA.

As the military ousted the NLD government and declared a state of emergency on 1st February,2021, some EAOs have suspended participation in the UPDJC.

CNI News

10 Nov 2022

Compared with previous months, tourist arrivals increased during the Tazaungdaing Festival, the Myanmar Tourism Entrepreneurs Association told the CNI.

The resurgence of tourist arrivals added new momentum for the struggling tourism industry, Chairman U Naung Naung Han of the MTEA told the CNI.

He said, “The arrivals of foreign tourists increased in early November for local destinations and package tours. However, they have not visited Myanmar en masse at present. Moreover, some tourists from Thailand and ASEAN countries have returned in small groups to Myanmar. It can be said that tour operations have revived a little. During the Thadingyut Festival in October, we had to provide services for domestic tourists alone as there were only a few foreign tourists. Now, there is a large number of domestic tourists while foreign tourist arrivals have resurged. Some tour companies were able to sell more package tours to foreign tourists. It is certain that foreign tourist arrivals have increased.”

 Tourists at Peik Chin Myaung in PyinOoLwin.

The majority of foreign tourist visiting Myanmar are not from western countries but from neighbouring countries, especially from Thailand.

Compared with the Thadingyut Festival, more foreign tourists visited Myanmar during the Tazaungdaing Festival while the number of domestic tourists rose.

Compared with previous months, the number of domestic tourists rose during the Tazaungdaing Festival in early November by only a few hundreds, Deputy Director U Sithu Kyaw of Shan State Directorate of Hotels and Tourism told the CNI.

He said, “Hotels were almost fully booked in Taunggyi and Kalaw in Shan State (South) as of September although the tour season usually starts in October. About 30,000 domestic tourists visited Taunggyi in September. The number of visitors to the town significantly rose to 53,000 in October. The trend has continued in November and hotels were fully booked due to the Tazaungdaing Festival. However, we still received low foreign tourist arrivals with about 300 foreign tourists. It is true that foreign tourist arrivals have increased by only a few hundreds.”

     PyinOoLwin Tazaungdaing Festival in progress on 6th November, 2022.

Tour operators have expected that more domestic and foreign tourists will travel in Myanmar during the Christmas and New Year holiday in December as the tragedy like what happened at the Kyaiktiyo in Thadingyut Festival in October did not take place during the Tazaungdaing Festival.

Very few people travelled with the arrangement tour agencies during previous months. Domestic tour activities resumed during the Thadingyut Festival and the Tazaungdaing Festival.

Tourism entrepreneurs hope that the industry, which suffered impacts of COVID-19, will recover soon if the trend continues.

CNI News

10 Nov 2022

Instabilities and tight stop and search operations in some areas in Mon State have posed difficulties for watching migratory birds, according to environmental conservation associations and bird watchers.

Moreover, due to higher costs and checkpoints, documenting migratory birds was impossible in some areas, Chairman Ko Thaung of Ahlat Environmental Conservation Association told the CNI.

He said, “We dare not go to some areas like Paung and Talkin. We can go to Kathe and Htanbinchaung but even travelling to Htanbinchaung by motorbike costs MMK 8,000 per person. As we have to spend our own money, we cannot go to document migratory birds. When we go to watch migratory birds, we need to bring binoculars. If authorities seize our binoculars because they suspect us of something, we will lose our binoculars. And checkpoints ask us questions over our trips and have banned riding a motorbike by two people.”

Mon State Defence Force. (MSDF)

Bird watchers from other states and regions including Yangon are planning to visit Mon State but the association had to tell them not to come to Mon State because of instabilities in the state.

The number of migratory birds to Mon State is still low at the beginning of the cold season. Bird watchers cannot go to mountains but it is possible for them to go to beaches, U Aung Kyaw, a bird watcher from Mon State, told the CNI.

Migratory birds in Paliek Lake in Singaing in Mandalay Region.

He told the CNI, “ It is possible for them to watch migratory birds at beaches like Kathe, Malarchaung, Shwetharhlaung and Dekhintan. If they want to go to upper areas by motorbike, it is difficult for them. There were some bird watchers in such areas. However, the number of birds which migrated to Mon State is not as many as last year because silt has not collected at beaches. There are only about 2,000 migratory birds in Mon State.”

Migratory birds start arriving in Myanmar in November but they usually migrate to Myanmar en masse in December and January.

However, negligent hunting of migratory birds in Myanmar has posed a threat to survival of over 50 species of endangered birds included in the red list such as spoonbills and cranes and emergency measures must be taken urgently.

CNI News

10 Nov 2022

The consequences of holding or cancelling the general election planned for 2023 by the State Administration Council are being debated because the opposition is disrupting the efforts.

The SAC announced that a general election would be held in 2023 while Acting President Duwa Lashi La of the National Unity Government, which has been fighting to topple the junta, said on 11th October, 2022 that the general election planned by the SAC must be disrupted without fail.

The success of the general election does not bode well for the country but cancelling it may aggravate the situation, EAO Leader Col Khun Okkar told the CNI.

He told the CNI, “Neither is good for the country. Holding the general election does not augur well for the country but cancellation of it may worsen the current situation. If the election is cancelled, lawlessness will prevail. If the election is held as scheduled, conflicts will prevail, causing enormous damage.”

Daw Aung San Suu Kyi cast her early vote in the 2020 general election. (AP)

Elections held by the SAC would not be free and fair and the majority of the public would not trust them, Spokesperson Lway Chi Sanga of Ta’ang Women Organization told the CNI.

She said, “No one trust them. If they hold a general election, it can’t be free and fair. The majority of the people will not support them. Very few people who do not understand politics will go to vote. I can’t say exactly whether the general election will be held or not. It depends only on their decision.”

Military rule is likely to be perpetuated if the general election cannot be held in 2023, Secretary Mai Ohn Khaing of the Ta’ang National Party told the CNI.

“There are many challenges and crises under current circumstances. The military junta will continue their rule if the general election is impossible. It is difficult and too early to say something about it because everything depends on whether the general election is possible or not.”

Snr Gen Min Aung Hlaing cast his early vote in the 2020 general election. (AFP)

Some political analysts are worried that failure to hold the general election may pave the way for a total military seizure of power without time limitations similar to that of the SLORC and the SPDC.

They pointed out that the 2008 constitution will become null and void if the general election cannot be held in 2023 and the public will lose rights of citizens guaranteed by the constitution prohibiting the nationalization of private businesses and demonetization of the currency.

Comrade Aye Lwin of the ABSDF told the CNI, “Elections are indispensable for establishing a democratic system. There must be genuine elections that reflect the will of the people in a country. However, elections held by coup-makers will not bring about a system aspired by the people.”

Election volunteers carrying early ballot boxes. (AP)

On 1st February, 2021, the junta ousted the government of the NLD by accusing it of forming a new government without settling voter’s list disputes and declared a state of emergency.

Then, the NUG and the PDF launched the Spring Revolution to topple the junta and urged the public to boycott the elections to be held by the SAC.

The SAC chairman had promised to hold a general election in August, 2023 and vowed to transfer power to the winning party.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken issued a statement on 7th November saying the general election planned by the SAC would not be free and fair and perpetuate the crisis and the US rejected the general election.

CNI News

9 Nov 2022

Prices of paddy hit about MMK 1.2 million per 100 baskets during the harvest of monsoon paddy but farmers were not able to enjoy benefits, farmers and their advocacy groups told the CNI.

Although paddy prices have risen this year, farmers are likely to reduce paddy cultivation acreages in summer due to falling yields and other reasons, Chairman U Thein Aung of Peasants’ Union told the CNI.

  Threshing paddy.

He said, “Paddy prices are higher this year but farmers were not able to use fertilizers and pesticides sufficiently during the cultivation and paddy yields dropped by 35 percent per acre. If they could harvest 100 baskets of paddy from an acre of farm in the past, they can harvest only 65 baskets this year. Paddy prices hit about MMK 1.2 million per 100 baskets recently but there may be paddy shortages. Although paddy prices are higher, farmers who cultivate a single crop will have to grow paddy but others will not raise paddy because they need five bags of fertilizer for an acre of farm. They are worried about the costs of inputs, which they cannot get through the BNPL system.”

Paddy yields fell this year because of the higher cost of inputs such as fertilizers, fuel and pesticides.

Moreover, farmers have to pay MMK 90,000 for labourers to reap an acre of paddy and will be able to enjoy benefits if they can harvest 50 baskets of paddy per acre, Farmer U Aye Naing told the CNI.

 Rice paddy.

He said, “MMK 1.2 million per 100 baskets is a good price for farmers but they cannot enjoy much benefit because of higher input and labour costs. If they can harvest only 35 baskets from an acre of farm, they suffer losses. If they can harvest 50 baskets of paddy per acre, they will get 15 baskets of paddy worth MMK 100,000 for them, according to farmers.

Farmers said total acreage of paddy may fall in the upcoming cultivation season and paddy acreage can expand when fertilizer prices fall.

Paddy prices have risen by about MMK 300,000 compared with last year’s paddy prices but yields have dropped and prices are not likely to decrease, according to farming experts.

CNI News

9 Nov 2022

As Thai authorities have ordered a crackdown on foreigners who overstay their visas, Myanmar migrants in Thailand have been urged to renew their expired visas, labour activists told the CNI.

Amid daily arrests of undocumented migrants, the crackdown will lead to more arrests and overstaying Myanmar migrants are required to renew their visas, Ko Thar Gyi, a labour activist for Myanmar migrant workers, told the CNI.

He told the CNI, “A large number of Myanmar migrants will be arrested because the largest number of migrants in Thailand are from Myanmar. Whether they hold tourist visas or business visas or work permits, authorities will check whether their documents are still valid. They can renew their visas easily without paying any fines even if they have overstayed for six months. but authorities do not extend their visas for one or two years and will permit them to stay in Thailand until 13th February, 2023. However, migrants whose visas have expired since March, 2021 will not be allowed to renew their visas and such migrants will be arrested and deported to Myanmar. If they are charged, they will not be allowed to enter Thailand for two years. Authorities will blacklist them by stamping in their passports and taking their finger prints for records.

Some Myanmar migrant workers in factories in Thailand renew their visas by themselves but there are some employers who help renew their workers’ visas.

Myanmar migrants in front of the Myanmar Embassy in Thailand.

Near the end of every year, Thai authorities usually check visas of foreigners in accordance with their rules and regulations. Thai authorities treat foreigners as a source of revenue, U Ba Yee of the Migrant Workers’ Right Network told the CNI.

“Thai authorities see foreigners as a source of revenue. When their visas have almost expired, authorities warn them to renew their visas. They are made to pay new deposits. So, the government received a large sum of revenues.”

As the instructions do not refer to any kind of visas exactly, more arrests will be made at quarters resided by migrant workers, according to labour activists.

Ko Thar Gyi said, “Recently, arrests were made in Tak Province on a daily basis but authorities do not make any arrest on the full-moon day because Myanmar migrants went to pagodas and monasteries. I think they will target foreign workers in border areas. There will be more arrests.”

Moreover, the Myanmar Embassy in Bangkok announced that it would issue the OWIC cards for Myanmar workers who applied for new passports for jobs as of 7th November.

Labour activists have warned Myanmar migrants of risks as authorities have launched a crackdown on undocumented migrant workers and overstaying foreigners.