Changing rainfall patterns and hotter temperatures this year, are creating drought conditions for local rice paddy farmers.

“This time last year, the farmland was not yet dried out, and the harvest was good. It has never been in such a dry condition like this before. Paddy seeds are failing to sprout,” said U Mehn Thin, a farmer from Ah-Khon village in Mudon Township.

Arid weather conditions and water shortages during the germination period is turning seed into chaff, he added.

The weather is getting hotter and with no rainfall since September farmlands have been drying out and farmers are having to pump water from lakes and streams to their fields.

According to U Maung Soe, another farmer, “It had stopped raining before the full moon of Tawthalin [in September]. The water was gone during harvesting time, so we had to take water from the lake. The lake then started drying out after only one attempt of pumping. We cannot afford the costs of pumping to get spring water.”

These extra costs can not be recouped given the drop in prices for rice paddy, he added.

In the Ah-Khon village, over 700 acres of harvesting monsoon rice paddies are experiencing a critical drought conditions, according to the village Administrator.

The change of rainfall patterns has caused drought conditions in Thaton, Belin, Kyaik Mayaw, and Mudon townships.

According to the Mon State Department of Agriculture, State Director, U Aung Zaw, delayed rains and the end of the monsoon season are contributing to higher temperatures. “We need to change the types of crops that can be grown in this situation. If we are facing a water shortage problem, we must consider growing short-term paddy varieties,” the State Director added.

According to the Mon State Department of Agriculture, KyaikMayaw township was already one of the hardest hit areas earlier this year with more than 80,000 acres affected by the monsoon floods.