Farmers in the Pong Inn area of southern Shan State are facing a deepening financial crisis as falling rice prices leave many unable to recover the cost of this year’s harvest.

Since mid-June, farmers have struggled to sell their harvested paddy due to a lack of buyers and a sharp decline in market prices. The price of the local Shwe Att variety has dropped to just 1,000 kyats per viss, down more than 50 percent from the 2,500 kyats per viss farmers received in 2025.

“At these prices, farmers are operating at a significant loss,” a local farmer told SHAN. “During the harvest, fuel costs were high, and labor was both scarce and expensive. Now that it’s time to sell, prices have collapsed, and there are almost no buyers.”

Farmers say the economics of rice cultivation have become unsustainable. Production costs now average about one million kyats per acre, including land preparation, labor, and agricultural inputs, making it impossible to earn a profit at current market prices.

“Rice is still expensive for people who have to buy it, but for those of us selling it, the prices are devastating,” the farmer said. “Because of these poor market conditions, many farmers are falling deeper into debt.”

The Pong Inn area is an important rice-producing region, known for its Nawng Morn rice, which is typically shipped in large quantities to Pang Long, Loilem, Taunggyi, and parts of central Myanmar. This year, however, farmers say the downturn extends beyond rice. Prices for corn, potatoes, and tomatoes have also fallen sharply, leaving growers with few profitable options.

As debts continue to mount and incomes decline, many residents are abandoning farming altogether. Unable to make a living from agriculture, they are leaving their villages to seek work elsewhere in Myanmar or abroad.