Continuous rains threaten winter crops across Arakan State

By Admin 05 Nov 2025

DMG Newsroom

5 November 2025, Kyauktaw

Continuous rains since 2 November have damaged winter crop fields across Arakan State, farmers report.

This is the main planting season for groundnuts, corn, peppers, eggplant, cucumbers, and watermelons, but flooded fields are now putting crops at risk.

"Winter crops cannot withstand much rain. Continuous rainfall floods and damages the plants, which are delicate. Farmers here are losing a lot," said a female farmer in Pauktaw Village, Kyauktaw Township.

In Laymyochaung, Mrauk-U Township, peanut fields are suffering from mold and insect damage. Daw Ma Than Aye, a farmer from Layhnyitaung Village, said he planted three acres of groundnuts and fears losing almost all of them.

"The beans I planted after the full-moon day of Thadingyut are already moldy. If it keeps raining, nearly all will be destroyed," he added.

The junta-controlled Department of Meteorology and Hydrology (DMH) said a strong low-pressure area over the east-central Bay of Bengal has reached northern Arakan and neighboring coastal areas of Bangladesh.

Farmers are calling on the United League of Arakan for assistance, warning that declining winter crop yields could threaten food security. Arakan State, which grows over 542,000 acres of winter crops, has already seen a reduction in planting areas this season.