Due to Covid-19 outbreak and political turmoil, it has affected potato market demand, and farmers have faced the difficulties to continue growing the crop in the next growing season in Panglaung (Pinlaung) township, Southern Shan State.

Panglaung Myo Ma market has also been closed in order to contain the spread of Covid-19.

“The travel restriction has been put in place, so businesses cannot be operated as usual. There is no buyer for the potato crop, and we cannot take the risk to grow it,” a farmer who lives in Panglaung township told SHAN.

According to farmers, potato crop could be sold as usual before the coup on 1st February 2021 regardless of the Covid-19 crisis.

“Usually we cultivated three acres every year. Our investment was about two million Kyat (2,000,000) and we could cash in some profit. However, we do not plant any potato,  only around 4 or 5 households grow it this year,” a female potato farmer explains the situation to SHAN.

Those who stop growing potato have to take whatever jobs available in order to cover their daily living costs.