The U.N. World Food Programme warned on the 20th that rising tensions in the Middle East could further worsen Myanmar’s food crisis.
WFP said limits on supplies of imported fertilizer and higher prices are hurting agriculture and disrupting rice planting for the rainy season. It warned of falling farm output and growing pressure on rural livelihoods. About one-quarter of the population — 12.4 million people — is already facing severe food insecurity, it said.
Independent outlet The Irrawaddy reported on the 20th that Myanmar’s agriculture sector relies heavily on imported fertilizer, with imports in fiscal 2025 (April 2025 to March 2026) topping 1.1 million tons. About half is supplied by China, but China’s restrictions on fertilizer exports in late March have intensified shortages inside Myanmar.
Market prices for urea fertilizer have surged to 90,000 to 150,000 kyat per bag (about 50 kilograms), undermining rice farmers’ profitability. A farmer in the lower Irrawaddy River delta said, “Even if I sell 10 bags of rice, I can’t cover the cost of even one bag of fertilizer,” adding that soaring costs are making it difficult to keep farming.
Production costs have risen to more than about 1 million kyat per acre, while rice market prices are said to be below about 1.5 million kyat per 100 bags, leaving many farmers struggling with losses.
Harvests are also declining. One farmer said output from a paddy field of about 1.2 hectares fell to 130 bags (about 3 tons) from the usual 300 bags (about 7 tons) as fertilizer and irrigation costs climbed and damage from harmful animals added to losses.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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