Rakhine Farmers Face High Rice Harvesting Costs of 200,000 Kyats per Acre

Rakhine Farmers Face High Rice Harvesting Costs of 200,000 Kyats per Acre

Arakha Times (14- November-2024)

Despite being the harvest season for monsoon rice, the cost of harvesting one acre of rice in Rakhine State has risen to around 200,000 Kyats, according to reports.

Due to high harvesting costs, some farmers are not making enough from the rice they harvest to cover these expenses. As a result, some farmers are considering leaving their fields unharvested.

“The income from harvested rice isn’t even enough to cover the harvesting costs,” said U Maung Thein Hla, Secretary of the Danyawaddy Farmers’ Association in Mrauk-U Township. “Here, if you want to harvest an acre, it costs between 200,000 and 250,000 Kyats. However, the value of the rice doesn’t reach that amount. So, in some cases, farmers are considering leaving their crops unharvested.”

Previously, harvesting one acre cost 80,000 Kyats, but due to conflict-related difficulties with transportation and the rise in fuel prices, the cost increased to 150,000 Kyats last year.

This year, harvesting costs have surged to 250,000 Kyats per acre. With an estimated yield of 50 baskets per acre, farmers are expected to earn only around 600,000 Kyats.

However, reports indicate there are currently no buyers for the harvested rice.

Secretary U Maung Thein Hla of the Danyawaddy Farmers’ Association stated, “Previously, the harvesting cost per acre was 80,000 Kyats. Last year, it went up to 150,000 Kyats, and this year it has risen to 250,000 Kyats. At most, we can harvest around 50 baskets per acre. If we sell these 50 baskets at the current market price, we’d only earn about 600,000 Kyats. This is just an estimate, and the maximum we might earn is 600,000 Kyats, though the actual income per acre usually falls below that.”

Farmers usually rely on imported fuel from India for their harvesting machines, but with the cost rising to 2.5 million Kyats per barrel, many cannot afford it. As a result, some harvesters have been halted.

Consequently, it’s likely that a significant amount of rice planted in Rakhine this year will remain unharvested.