Myanmar Rice Harvest at Risk Due to Severe Diesel Shortages
Myanmar farmers face severe fuel shortages and rising costs as regional conflict impacts supplies. This scarcity threatens the rice harvest and food security.
Farmers in Myanmar are facing a critical shortage of diesel as the escalating conflict involving Iran disrupts global energy markets and supply routes. The scarcity has forced agricultural workers in the Irrawaddy delta to wait in long queues at fuel depots, sometimes overnight, to secure small amounts of fuel for their tractors. The domestic price of diesel has surged from 2,450 kyat in February to 3,800 kyat per litre, while black market rates have reached as high as 12,000 kyat. One farmer from the delta, Moe Win, noted that they must bear any cost to save their crops from destruction.
"But if we dont harvest the paddy in time, the crops will be destroyed, so we have to bear any cost."
