Farmers in Arakan State, who are getting ready to harvest and store their rainfed paddy as the winter season approaches, are struggling with the increasing prices of fertilizer, fuel, and other essential inputs.
“I think owners of combine harvesters won’t be able to make much profit this year due to high fuel prices, making it difficult to harvest paddy. I don’t know how to overcome this challenge,” said farmer U Hla Thein from Kyauktaw Township.
The combine harvesters used in Arakan State have been in poor condition for many years, and due to a lack of maintenance, they are steadily deteriorating.
Farmers said they are struggling to repair and use combine harvesters due to a lack of supplies and equipment from the mainland, compounded by road blockages in the region.
U Maung Than Hla, Secretary of the Danyawaddy Paddy Strain Agriculture Association, said, “If possible, I believe the government could greatly support farmers by addressing the need for spare parts for harvesters or ensuring a reliable fuel supply. This would bring much relief to farmers.”
Last year, the cost of harvesting and threshing was over 200,000 Kyats per acre of farmland, but farmers estimate that this year it could rise to around 300,000 Kyats. While the harvest fee for hired workers was 20 baskets per acre last year, it may exceed 30 baskets per acre this year.
“We are unable to afford a combine harvester for paddy harvesting. The cost would be too high, so we plan to harvest the paddy using workers instead,” said farmer Daw Zin Yin Nu from MraukU Township.
Farmers are likely to face losses this year due to high input costs and the lack of a guaranteed local paddy market.
Arakan State has more than 1.2 million acres of arable farmland, but ongoing armed conflict and high commodity prices have prevented farmers from fully utilizing all of these lands. As a result, the agricultural industry in Arakan State is gradually declining.
Sent by Aung Htein (DMG)