Farmers said that the potato market in Shan State may disappear due to the new Military Council agreement to allow potatoes grown in China to be imported to Myanmar.
A potato grower from Aungpan Township expressed the fears of local farmers that “ When the Myanmar Junta imports Chinese potatoes to Myanmar, there may be very negative effects on the domestic potato market. Southern Shan State is a good potato producing region. But if many tons of potatoes are imported from China, local potato farmers will face economic ruin.”
He explained that “ We will face a lot of difficulties because Chinese imported potatoes will be sold at a lower price. We have invested a lot of money in planting potatoes. So the market may disappear.
Many farmers wonder why the Military Council is planning to shape the market in favour of Chinese imports, and a market that should not exist for imports. To grow potatoes in southern Shan State, it costs between 35 lakhs in Myanmar Kyats per acre. If Chinese imported potatoes are sold in the domestic market at a low price, local farmers will be at a huge loss.
Locals complain that this is a one-sided trade deal, and that Chinese authorities have often restricted the export of goods from Myanmar to China under the pretext of controlling the Covid, pushing Myanmar traders and farmers into trouble.
To grow potatoes in southern Shan State, it costs 35 lakhs Myanmar Kyats per acre. If Chinese imported potatoes are sold in the domestic market at a low price, local farmers will be at a huge loss.
“Now is the season for selling potatoes. If Chinese potatoes are imported, we will lose out. If China does not import potatoes we farmers can make just a little profit”, he added.
A farmer from Namhkan told Shan Herald that the Junta should show empathy with the hardships of the Myanmar people, and negotiate with the Chinese government to facilitate the trade in a way that protects the livelihood of Shan farmers.
This Namkhan farmer bitterly complained about the economic injustice “Last year we had to throw away a lot of sugarcanes. Some watermelon traders had to throw their fruits on the road. It is unfair that China is permitted to flood us with imports, but exports are blocked,” he added.
Since 2020, China has been tightening the border trade sector and frequently imposed restrictions, hence the abundance of sugarcanes, watermelons and corn produced in Myanmar were thrown away. Until now, China is still blocking export goods from Myanmar under the pretext of Covid.
“ China can do whatever they want. They close or open trade as they like. Instead of supporting the local market for farmers, this country’s authorities are favouring China. Theydon’t care about us at all”, the farmer from Namhkan said.
