- Web Master
- April 06, 2024
Narinjara News, 6 March 2023
The price of rice grains
is almost doubled in Rakhine State, but the
local farmers are yet to get due benefits as their agriculture expenditures have also gone high.
During this period last year, one hundred baskets of Porsan Mwe brand rice was valued at Kyats 400,000, but
this year it has gone up to Kyats
800,000.
According to a Phonna Kyunt farmer, the price of 100 baskets
of Ayema Hta brand
group was about Kyats 300,000 last year, but this year it is Kyats 600,000.
"Even though the price of rice grains has increased, the farmers are not getting their dues. The fertilizer
price has also gone up as well as
that of fuel. The farmers have to pay the interest on agricultural loans. So no profit is left for them.
However, the big farmers who could
store rice grains are getting benefits,” he said.
Moreover, due to low volume of rainfall last year the rice production was not satisfactory. Moreover, natural
calamities also affected the production,
added the farmer.
The conflict between the junta forces and Arakan Army
members also prevented the farmers
from starting the plantation on time. It also resulted in a negative effect on rice production.
A Kyauk Taw farmer said, "When we harvested the rice, the price was not good. It has gone up now only. But
we do not have enough rice as we
had already sold it.”
Rakhine State farmers' union stated that the price rise for Rakhine rice grains took place because of the
domestic purchase. However, by the
end of March, the price should decrease, said U Aung Kyaw Mya, a farmer from Kyauk Taw township.
"Once the rice grains start coming from other places of Burma, its price should go down. However, it may
go up again in the rainy season starting
from July or August," he said.
According to the Rakhine State farmers' union, there are more than 12,50000 acres of paddy fields across Rakhine
State, but due to various reasons,
only 850000 acres of
cultivable lands were used last
year and hence the overall rice yield was decreased.