Farmers Urge Arakan People's Government to Step In and Raise Paddy Prices for Long-Term Benefits

Maung Sar Ga, Narinjara News, 22 February 2025 

Farmers in Arakan State are experiencing economic difficulties because of falling paddy prices and are urging the Arakan People's Government to step in to help recover the prices, for the sustained benefit of the agricultural community. 

This year, farmers indicate that Paw San Hmwe rice is being sold for about 650,000 kyats for every hundred baskets (one basket equals 65 cans), whereas Ae Ma Hta and Nga Sein are valued at roughly 500,000 kyats per hundred baskets. Indian chay rice is priced at approximately 400,000 kyats for every hundred baskets.

Farmers informed Narinjara News that they are appealing to the Arakan People's Government to control paddy prices, due to a lack of buyers and resulting losses. 

U Maung Hla Shwe, a farmer from the township of Kyauktaw, stated, “We hope the Arakan People's Government will take into account the requirements of farmers and work towards increasing rice prices as much as they can so we can at least regain our initial investment, even if we do not earn a profit.”

Farmers in Arakan state

He mentioned that the paddy harvested this year and the stock from last year are both unsold due to the low price of paddy. 

“Numerous farmers have not sold their paddy from last year, and this year’s paddy is already harvested. They haven't managed to sell the paddy from last year," he mentioned. 

In Kyauktaw Township, the most commonly grown rice varieties are Paw San Hmwe and India Chay.

A farmer in Rathedaung Township mentioned that he is experiencing losses this year, selling Paw San Hmwe for roughly 700,000 kyats per hundred baskets and Ae Ma Hta and Nga Sein for merely 500,000 kyats per hundred baskets.

"This year's paddy yields were poor, and fertilizers were costly, which limited our usage." Consequently, the quantity of farmers has dropped by approximately 40 percent. At the same time, as the price of paddy declines, we are facing losses," he stated. 

In Rathedaung Township, the main types of paddy cultivated include Paw San Hmwe, Ae Ma Hta, Nga Sein, and Mee Done.

Prior to the conflict in Arakan State, the expense of cultivating 0.8 acres of land was merely around 70,000 kyats. Nonetheless, in the previous year, because of the increase in fuel prices, the expense rose to a range of 250,000 to 300,000 kyats.

Likewise, a bag of fertilizer priced at approximately 100,000 kyats last year now costs 350,000 kyats. 

Furthermore, the costs of harvesting have increased because of the rise in fuel prices, leading farmers to confront significantly high input expenses.

U Maung Thein Mya, a farmer hailing from Arakan State, stated, "I have farmed over two acres of land. Even if I sell the rice at the present price, I will incur a loss of roughly 1 million kyats when factoring in the expenses of plowing, fertilizer, and harvesting. 

According to farmers, the input expenses for each acre of land last year were approximately 1 million kyats.

U Kyaw Sein, a Muslim farmer managing ten acres in Arakan State, informed Narinjara News, "It’s tough as there is no market for rice. The expenses are considerable. Should the costs of plowing and fertilizer drop, we might sell the paddy at the existing price. 

Even with elevated input expenses, many farmers are having a hard time sustaining their livelihoods because of the absence of good paddy prices. 

U Maung Hla Shwe, a farmer from Kyauktaw Township, remarked, "If the price of paddy stays between 600,000 and 700,000 kyats, it will be difficult for us farmers to keep farming next year."

Consequently, farmers are requesting a modest rise in paddy prices for next year to support their farming efforts and for the plowing fee to be established at approximately 120,000 to 150,000 kyats per 0.8 acre.

U Maung Hla Shwe mentioned that if a bag of fertilizer could be purchased for approximately 120,000 to 150,000 kyats, it would lighten the load on farmers.

The Arakan Peasant Union (APU) reported that although Arakan State boasts over 1.2 million acres of rice fields, only around 800,000 acres were farmed in the previous planting season because of elevated input expenses.