Photo News: Rising costs, low paddy prices strain farmers in Arakan State

Farmers in Arakan State are facing growing financial hardship as rising agricultural costs and low paddy prices reduce profits and force some cultivators to scale back farming activities, residents said.

By Admin 17 Jun 2026

Agricultural laborers cultivate paddy fields in Arakan State in June 2026.
Agricultural laborers cultivate paddy fields in Arakan State in June 2026.

DMG Newsroom

17 June 2026, Mrauk U

Farmers in Arakan State are facing growing financial hardship as rising agricultural costs and low paddy prices reduce profits and force some cultivators to scale back farming activities, residents said.

The agricultural sector has been affected by higher fertilizer prices, rising fuel costs and labor shortages, making it difficult for farmers to continue normal operations during the monsoon planting season.

Many farmers have reduced the amount of land under cultivation, while some have stopped farming altogether and turned to daily wage work to support their families.

According to local sources, a bag of chemical fertilizer now costs up to K300,000, while mechanized plowing costs have exceeded K300,000 per acre. In contrast, the price of 100 baskets of paddy ranges from K700,000 to more than K900,000.

Farmers and agricultural workers warned that declining cultivation and the abandonment of farmland could affect food production and livelihoods across the state.