Narinjara News, 6 June, 2025

In Rakhine, primarily focused on agriculture, despite annual losses in farming, farmers have begun to prepare their fields for paddy planting during this year's rainy season.

Although the rains have begun in Rakhine and plowing has also begun, farmers are reportedly dissatisfied.

A farmer in Mrauk-U Township mentioned that they have started plowing even with the high costs of inputs like fertilizer.

"If you fully plow one acre of land, it costs 250,000 kyats. The prices of fuel are also rising. Fertilizer costs are likewise elevated. Farmers incur losses annually, yet they have no alternative. There will be famine if you don't plant paddy," he stated.

In Rakhine, a gallon of diesel is priced at 170,000 kyats, while a bag of fertilizer exceeds 200,000 kyats, which creates challenges for farmers in Rakhine to labor effectively.

"The majority of farmers will farm their own land to generate income and support their families. Numerous farmers are unable to bear the fuel expenses, so rather than hiring tractors, some are opting to use buffaloes and cows for traditional plowing," he stated.

Rakhine State is primarily an agricultural region; however, the rice produced is of poor quality and lacks an export market, resulting in farmers not receiving fair prices for their rice.

Of the approximately 1.2 million acres of agricultural land in Rakhine State, about one million acres are cultivated with monsoon rice annually.

Following the outbreak of conflict in different regions of Rakhine State in 2018, the amount of land farmed has declined, and this year, approximately 500,000 acres will be available for monsoon rice cultivation due to soaring input costs, stated U Aung Kyaw Mya, secretary of the Rakhine State Farmers' Association.