Mon farmers fear heavy losses: Farm abandoned due to high product cost

August 27, 2024

HURFOM: For much of 2024, the farming industry in Mon State has experienced labor scarcity, high labor and product costs, leaving farmers fearing heavy losses after harvest season.

In addition, flooding and paddy pests have already destroyed many fields in Mon State. Paddy farmers are expressing concerns that their farmland will be less productive.

“There are no snails this year but paddy pests have already destroyed young paddy plants. The flood also killed many plants a month ago. I work on seven acres of farmland but only three acres of farmland will be productive. I might face losses due to high production costs this year,” said one farmer.

In Ye Township, farmers have to pay between 18,000 to 20,000 MMK to hire a farm worker per/day but still there is a scarcity of laborers. On top of this cost, a bag of fertilizer is priced at up to 200,000 MMK depending on the brands.

“Paddy had a good price last year so I’ve increased the size of my farm this year. But unfortunately, the price of fertilizer and gasoline has skyrocketed. Now, I’ve already spent two million MMK for the labor fee but my farm work is not yet done. The product cost is really high this year. I have to spend money again in the harvest season. If we use machines, it’s more costly. So I won’t do farm work next year,” said another farmer.

Most farmers in Kyikemayaw Township have decided to abandon their farmland due to security concerns and high product cost.

“No one does farm work here due to high product cost. Additionally, it has flooded here and we can’t do farmwork right now. We can start even in September or November so we have to use machines to save time. It isn’t okay with today’s cost. So I don’t do farmwork this year,” said a Kyikemayaw resident.

Mon State has regularly experienced a scarcity of laborers every season but it has gotten much worse since the attempted coup.

Written by Modinator · Filed Under News