Price of rice grains doubled, but Rakhine farmers not getting benefits

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.