Due to incessant rains on the Shan-Karenni (Kayah) border, the water level of Pekon lake is rising and thousands of acres of paddy fields near the lake are flooded, locals said.
A local farmer said: “Some paddy is not ripe yet. All the paddy fields are under flooded water. Farmers face huge losses. The estimated loss is Ks- 700,000 to 800,000 per acre. There are a lot of farmers whose paddy fields are flooded.”
Not only paddy farmers but also fish farmers suffer losses as the areas near Moebye and Phayabyu and Phayani areas are flooded.
“Many of the farmers who are returning to upland farming now are in trouble. We will blame our Karma as we face losses again,” a farmer said.
Farmers near Moebye, Phayabyu and Phayani areas have to do their farming by relying mainly on small creeks and lakes that branch out from Pekon lake.
Similarly, some of the paddy fields cultivated by local farmers in Konetha village in Loikaw Township have been harvested prematurely due to flooding, some local farmers said.
“Many acres of paddy fields are flooded. In some cases, we have to harvest before the paddy is not ripe. I think hundreds of paddy acres are under water,” a local farmer from Warreekawkhu village said.
Locals who rely mainly on agriculture said they are worried about next year’s food supply due to the damage to the cultivated rice.
Sent by Kantarawaddy Times.