Locals face rice shortage in Gyine River area

January 21, 2025

HURFOM: Since 2023, there has been military tension in Dhammasa, Ta Ra Nar, Kaw Swell, Kaw Thut, Kha Yone Gu, Than Ga Long and Kyune Gone villages, Kyikemayaw Township, Mon State.  Villagers are increasingly insecure about returning to their farm fields due to the remnants of bombs and landmines left in the paddy fields.  This is leading to a rice shortage in the area.

After the armed conflicts, bombs and landmines have been left in the paddy fields. The military told local farmers not to go to their farms, so no one dares to return to farming. We have to eat rice left from the previous year. Now, we can’t buy rice in the village,” said a local villager.

Due to the rice shortage in villages, residents must now try to travel to cities to buy rice where they have to pay up to 200,000 MMK for a bag of rice.

Rice from the villages is cheaper but no one wants to sell their rice. As the situation is still unstable, they are keeping their rice. So villagers who don’t have rice farms have to go to the cities and buy rice at a high price,” said a resident.

According to local sources, the junta’s regiment stationed at Kaw That village, Kyikemayaw Township banned rice transportation and is seizing foodstuffs of those who try to transport rice.

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