Livestock Farming in Kyaukphyu Stalls Amid Electricity and Fuel Shortages
Arakha Times | December 3, 2024
Kyaukphyu, Rakhine State Livestock farming in Kyaukphyu Township has come to a halt as the military council has cut off electricity to the area for over two months, locals report.
Many businesses in the township, primarily focused on farming king crabs and other shrimp, have been forced to cease operations due to fuel shortages and skyrocketing prices.
“We have no electricity in Kyaukphyu now. Many livestock farming businesses have stopped. King prawns, which are bred in tanks, require oxygen and frequent water changes. Without affordable fuel, it’s impossible to sustain operations,” a local shrimp farmer told Arakha Times.
Kyaukphyu District is home to 161 major producers of shrimp, crab, soft-shell crab, rockfish, and oysters. These products are typically exported to seafood markets, hotels, and restaurants in Yangon and Ngapali.
However, the price of fuel in Kyaukphyu Township has risen to 30,000 kyats per litre, and transportation of fuel to rural areas has been restricted by the military council. Businesses that rely on oxygen supply and water changes for breeding tanks, such as shrimp and oyster farms, are struggling to survive.
“Fuel is the main problem. It’s extremely expensive. While fuel is still available in the city, it’s completely unavailable in rural areas due to military restrictions. Some species, like oysters that don’t require extensive water changes, can still be farmed, but others, like king prawns, are impossible to sustain without oxygen and regular water changes,” a livestock entrepreneur explained.
Adding to the challenges, all private banks in Kyaukphyu have been shut down, and the military council has tightened security in the area, including launching airstrikes on nearby villages.
Kyaukphyu is a key site for Chinese government projects, but locals report that fighting is gradually approaching the city, prompting many residents to flee.
