Despite damaging 5,000 acres of paddy fields, Myanmar hopes securing domestic rice stock
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Lynn/ Yoon (NP News) - Sep 25
Flooding has affected around 5,000 acres of rice fields, but U Ye Min Aung, president of the Myanmar Rice Federation (MRF) assures NP News that domestic rice supplies remain sufficient.
Since September 9, heavy rains have fallen across Myanmar due to the remnant of Typhoon Yagi, resulting in flooding in several regions.
The flooding has caused water intrusion in some rice mills and storage facilities, impacting nearly 5,000 acres of rice fields. Plans are underway to resume planting rice and other crops.
"There has been damage to rice fields, affecting around 5,000 acres. We are considering replanting rice, and if not, we’ll plant other crops. The water has only covered some areas for about three to four days, so the overall impact is likely minimal. The effects on rice production are very limited, especially around Naypyidaw with about 3,000 acres affected. The remaining damage is concentrated in the eastern part of the Bago region. We still haven’t received reports from Shan and Kayah states, but the damage appears to be slight," said U Ye Min Aung.
Additionally, in July, flooding occurred in over 20 cities across Myanmar, submerging more than 100,000 acres of rice fields. It is reported that rice and other crops have been replanted.
There is currently a sufficient supply of rice in the country, with about 4 million tons in stock, so the public need not worry about shortages due to flooding.
Currently, there is no significant impact on domestic production, rice stock, or export operations, so there is no cause for concern. The country has sufficient rice, with an estimated total stock of about 4 million tons, ensuring stability until the next harvest. However, we will need to monitor weather conditions in October and November, as they could affect future crops, according to U Ye Min Aung.
Currently, there are rumors on social media suggesting that flooding could lead to rising rice prices and shortages in the country, which has caused concern among the public.
Additionally, the MRF plans to provide seeds and fertilizers to support nearly 5,000 affected acres.
The country has around 15 million acres of rice fields, with an annual production of approximately 1088 million tonnes.