Betel leaf prices rise in Arakan State after Cyclone Mocha devastates local supply

By Admin 24 Jul 2023

DMG Newsroom
24 July 2023, Sittwe

The price of betel leaves has gone up in Arakan State due to supply and demand factors after several betel plantations were destroyed by Cyclone Mocha in May.

The price has increased from about 9,000 kyats per viss in June to around 15,000 kyats per viss currently.

Most betel plantations were destroyed in Ponnagyun, Kyauktaw and Pauktaw, the primary betel-growing townships in Arakan State. Betel leaves supplied from other parts of the country are now being sold in the state to make up for the local supply shortfall.

“Betel leaves sell for around 12,000 kyats per viss in other countries. The selling price is higher here because of transportation costs,” said Daw Hla Hla Aye, who sells betel leaves in Sittwe’s central market.

Betel leaf sellers in Arakan State are also suffering from tight checks imposed by Myanmar’s military regime along roadways. Betel leaves are also at risk of spoiling if transportation is delayed excessively by junta security checkpoints.

“Transportation takes at least two to three days. Sometimes, it takes five days and all the betel leaves go bad. So, we can’t sell fresh leaves. And we can’t increase selling prices much,” said betel merchant U Shwe Maung in Sittwe.

Betel quid vendors have also reported a decline in sales due to the high price of betel leaves, said Daw Ma Aye Thein, a betel quid vendor in Sittwe’s Yupa Myauk ward.

“Previously, around 30,000 kyats worth of betel quid was sold a day. However, sales have declined to slightly over 10,000 kyats now. People are consuming less betel quid due to high prices,” she said.

More than two months after Cyclone Mocha made landfall over Arakan State, betel growers are still struggling to rebuild their houses damaged by the storm, and therefore do not have time to rehabilitate their plantations. The price of betel leaves is thus expected to increase further, betel leaf sellers say.