Mawlamyine, 13 October
Military council’s setting of the basic reference rice price of 700,000 kyats per 100 baskets for the coming summer and monsoon paddy is unacceptable, and the military council’s actions are causing farmers to lose a lot of money, the farmers said.
The working bodies for the protection of farmer rights and enhancement of their benefits declared on October 10 that the basic reference price for 100 baskets of 2023 monsoon rice and 2024 summer rice had been fixed at 7.5 million kyats.
The statement said that that is a fair price for farmers in accordance with the provisions of the Law of Protection of Farmer Rights and Enhancement of Their Benefits.
In addition, if the market price is above the floor price, the rice must be purchased at the market price, and if the market price is below the floor price, the rice must be purchased at the floor price, according to the statement.
A farmer told Than Lwin Times, “The basic reference price of rice causes farmers to suffer losses, and it is oppressive to farmers amidst the rising cost of cultivation.”
“The military council ought not to reduce the price of rice in the context of skyrocketing input costs, high general costs, and reduced rice yields due to weather and natural disasters,” he went on to say.
The Myanmar Rice Federation said on September 19 that the basic reference price for Emahta and Ngasein, both of which are classified as coarse rice, will be 130,000 to 150,000 kyats per 100 baskets, while Paw Hsan will be 160,000 to 200,000 kyats per 100 baskets.
Than Lwin Times tried to reach U Ye Min Aung, chairman of the Myanmar Rice Federation, for comments regarding the setting of the rice floor price for the working bodies for the protection of farmer rights and enhancement of their benefits, but received no answer.
As an attempt to control rice, the military council has warned that those who want to store more than 50 tons of rice and 5,000 baskets of rice in one place need to register and discussions are underway in some cities to enact a rice law.
News-Than Lwin Times
Photo-CJ