KARENNI STATE – As it is the beginning of the rice harvesting season, local farmers near the battle zones are worried that they will not be able to harvest rice, and they are worried about the difficulty of sustenance for the coming year.
“According to the current situation, the rice is due to be harvested in November. We are worried about when they will have to flee. There are heavy weapon shellings and the planes are also hovering, so we are worried about whether or not we will be able to harvest this year’s rice. If we can’t harvest, there will be no rice to eat for the coming year, so we are worried,” said a farmer.
The supply convoy of the terrorist war council headed to Bawlakhe was intercepted by the joint revolutionary forces, so fighting is taking place near Nang Phe Village between Hpruso and Bawlakhe, and the residents are also fleeing.
Therefore, the local farmers who mainly rely on farming are currently running away although it is the harvest season.
A farmer from Hpruso said that “At present, it is reported that some farmers are returning to harvest the paddy ripe for harvest despite the fear. The terrorist council usually fires with heavy weapons into paddy fields, so farmers don’t dare to go in groups.”
“Now, those who returned home returned to harvest their rice. In terms of security, I’m worried because the farms are close to the main road, so sometimes they come with heavy weapons. They don’t dare to go in large gatherings, they just go on their own. In normal years, they go to harvest the rice together and thresh the rice. This year, if there are too many people, the terrorist army will fire heavy weapons, I have to go and reap myself because I’m afraid they will come. In addition, the planes come frequently, so if someone dares to go, they go, if someone is afraid to go, they will not go,” he added.
Upland rice harvest starts in mid-September, and one field of upland can get at least 15 to a maximum of 60 bags of rice, which is sustainable for one year’s food, but because of the fighting, they can’t harvest it, and they are worried about their livelihood.
It is reported that due to the fighting, the crops have not yet been harvested and the residents of at least six villages have fled the war and are in need of food.