Challenges in Harvesting Monsoon Rice in Rakhine State

Challenges in Harvesting Monsoon Rice in Rakhine State

Arakha Times (November 9, 2024)

Farmers in Rakhine State are facing difficulties in harvesting monsoon rice due to shortages of machinery, labor, and fuel.

According to local farmers, there aren’t enough machines available, and the scarcity of fuel has made it challenging to use machines. When relying on manual labor, the harvest cannot be completed on time, especially if it rains, which risks damaging the crops.

U Maung San, a farmer from Mrauk U Township, explained that manual harvesting is often more expensive than using machines.

“Currently, some are preparing to harvest by hand, while others are using machines. Relying on just one method wouldn’t work, as there aren’t enough machines. In families with more labor capacity, some choose to harvest their own fields to save on machine rental costs. Harvesting by hand isn’t easy, though, and it can end up being more expensive than machine harvesting, especially when labor costs are considered. Moreover, if bad weather strikes unexpectedly, like sudden rain, the harvested rice can spoil. These challenges make things difficult,” he told Arakha Times.

Indian fuel is available for machine use, but farmers worry that using it might damage the machinery. Some farmers are preparing to try it out, though the diesel from India is both more expensive and consumes more fuel. The price per barrel ranges from 1.4 to 1.7 million kyats, which is a heavy financial burden for local farmers.

U Maung Thein Hla, Secretary of the Dhanyawadi Farmers Association, said, “We have diesel fuel imported from India. However, it’s said that this fuel isn’t suitable for operating the harvesting machines. Some farmers are trying to use it, but they’re hesitant because equipment parts are scarce and difficult to replace if something goes wrong. These machines require premium-grade diesel to run properly, but that kind of fuel is now unavailable. As of now, we haven’t been able to find any high-quality fuel for them.”

He added, “Some farmers are planning to use the fuel from India, but they’re still hesitant. The issue with Indian fuel is that while it provides strong engine power, it also burns quickly, meaning the fuel isn’t economical—it’s consumed rapidly. Even if we could get premium fuel from Myanmar, the border closures have made it unavailable here. The price of Indian fuel in this area is around 14 to 17 lakhs per drum, less than 20 lakhs, but still quite expensive.”

In Rakhine State, the largest areas for monsoon rice cultivation are in Kyauktaw and Mrauk U townships, with over 1 million acres planted last year. This year, while approximately 600,000 acres were cultivated, selling the harvested rice is challenging due to restricted market access.

Since late 2023, transport routes, including trade and waterways, have been closed off to Rakhine, leading to a lack of market access for Rakhine rice. Consequently, rice harvested last year in 2023 still remains unsold to this day.