Narinjara News
Akyab, January 13
Rice Production Decline in Arakan
In the western Burmese state of Arakan,
rice production has declined in comparison to last year.
A farmer from Ingra Chaing Kyan from
Insufficient fertiliser has
therefore led to a poor rice crop throughout Arakan.
Another farmer from the Akyab
region said, “Due to the decline in production, the rice price is bouncing
back. It is fetching 45,000 kyat for 100 baskets, or 1200
kilograms. Last year one could be considered lucky to get 20,000 to
25,000 kyat.”
While ordinary rice is about 47,00 kyat per sack (
equivalent 50 kilograms), the better quality Paw San Hmwee
brand of rice is priced at about 60,00 kyat per sack.
Since the raw rice prices hiked, the processed rice price
has also surged from 3,000 to 4,700 kyat per 50 kilograms, and from 4,500 to
6,000 kyat per 50 kilograms for Paw San Hmwee rice.
In Bangladesh, which is a neighboring country to Arakan, 100 baskets is worth about 90,00 taka or 135,000
Burmese kyat this year, while it was worth 60,00 taka this time last year.
Rice crops in Arakan were not
affected by the cyclone that crossed during May 2004.
Arakan is also the third largest
rice-producing region in
There are about 42.9 million acres of rice paddy throughout
Burma. #
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