Fighting in northern Arakan State has affected cultivation in Buthidaung Township, leaving more than 15,000 acres of cultivated land idle, according to the Department of Agriculture in Buthidaung Township.

Out of 28 conflict-affected villages in Buthidaung Township, crops cannot be grown at all in 11 villages, said U Maung Maung Nyi, manager of the Department of Agriculture in Buthidaung Township.

“There are 11 villages where there is no cultivation at all. Eight villages could carry out hill-side cultivation and two villages could grow crops on sides of hills and paddy fields. The remaining 17 villages are able to grow crops but cultivation is partial in some villages. Some cultivated crops could be damaged because there are no people to work on this land” he said.

There are 3,851 acres of farmland where monsoon paddy can be regularly grown in 28 conflict-stricken villages and currently, only 2264.60 acres were used for cultivation and 1586.40 acres are still idle.

Despite the failure to grow crops, the current rice yield is still sufficient for Buthidaung Township, the manager said.

There are a total of 99,600 acres of farmland where there is difficulty to grow crops in crisis-ridden regions of seven townships in Arakan State, according to a statement issued by Arakan State Farmers’ Union in May.

Moreover, farmers from Maungdaw, Buthidaung, Rathedaung, Ponnagyun, Kyauktaw, Mrauk-U and Minbya townships have faced many difficulties to go back to their work due to the curfew order under section 144, the statement said.

The curfew order has been extended in these townships as ongoing skirmishes between the Tatmadaw and Arakan Army (AA) have been escalating.