Kant Kaw Ni Ni — Even though cultivation costs are higher this year, the people of Arakan are increasingly prioritizing crop farming and working harder to secure local food supplies.
“Nowadays, individuals are more interested in agriculture than they were in the past. Previously, all goods had to be brought in from the mainland of Myanmar to Arakan State. When the military regime blocked off the transportation paths, food shortages ensued, making life challenging. Today, the residents of Arakan have come to the realization that they cannot rely on outsiders. As soon as they realized they had to grow and produce for their region, they started dedicating more effort to crop farming," a local farmer said.
Before, Arakan State crop plantations weren't extensive, as a result of increasing cultivation expenses, lack of labor, and minimal profits. Therefore, cities like Sittwe depended on fruits and vegetables like chilies, tomatoes, cabbage, and sweet potatoes imported from mainland Myanmar.
On November 13, 2023, the military junta closed off all transportation routes between the mainland and Arakan State as fighting erupted. This resulted in a widespread lack of food in the area, causing substantial difficulties for the Arakan community.
Following that, an increasing number of individuals in Arakan State have shifted towards self-sufficient agriculture, displaying a keen enthusiasm for cultivating crops.
“The support for agriculture is also backed by the Arakan People's Government. They motivate individuals to strive for adequate food production in their region, encompassing both plants and animals. More individuals are taking part in agriculture as they have become increasingly conscious of it,” a local farmer stated.
Following the monsoon season this year, farmers in Arakan have started planting winter crops such as eggplant, pepper, cucumber, melon, peanuts, and beans.
In Mrauk-U Township, farmers plant peanut fields in mid-October, covering over 15,000 acres of land for cultivation every year.
Daw Oo Kyawt Yin, a nearby farmer, mentioned that she has cultivated over 6 acres of peanuts because of her passion for the area. Yet she knows that she could experience financial hardships if the peanut prices are low due to increased farming costs such as plowing, fuel, fertilizers, herbicides, and labor this year.
“The cost of plowing has increased twofold from last year, and there are also high costs for fertilizer. Buying them is also challenging. I'm anticipating an improved price when selling the peanuts. If not, I might suffer financial losses. I am hopeful for a good price as there are peanut oil producers in our region," she explained.
Previously, edible oil manufacturing in Arakan State was restricted to local production, with the area depending on imported edible oil from the rest of Myanmar.
This year, some farmers think that the production of edible oil might exceed levels seen in past years.
Peanut farmers informed Narinjara News that during the 2023 peanut season, a basket of peanuts (equivalent to 68 cans) was purchased for 12,000 kyats. While the farming expenses were reduced compared to last year, the profits were also decreased, yet there were no losses incurred.
This year, peanut farmers are optimistic about having a successful harvest and receiving better prices for their peanuts, despite the expensive cultivation process.
Farmers reported that the cost of plowing 0.8 acres has increased from 40,000 kyats last year to 110,000 kyats this year.
In spite of the growing expenses, more actions are being taken to guarantee that the region achieves self-sufficiency in crop production.
The military junta sought to cause famine in the Arakan people by exploiting ethnic animosity and cutting off transportation links between the mainland and Arakan State, leading to the entire region experiencing shortages of goods, increasing prices, and scarcity.
