Burmese farmers hurt by Iran conflict's fertilizer/oil shortages amid civil war

MGR Online•International•1d ago

Reader Briefing

Myanmar's farmers are facing dire consequences from global conflicts and domestic instability, leading to critical shortages of much-needed fertilizers and fuel.

•Burmese farmers are struggling with escalating costs of fertilizer and fuel due to the Iran conflict and global supply chain disruptions.
•These shortages are exacerbating an existing humanitarian crisis in Myanmar, already burdened by civil war since the 2021 coup.
•A potential El Niño is forecast to bring heatwaves and drought, further threatening agricultural output in Southeast Asia.

Overview

•Burmese farmers are experiencing critical shortages of fertilizer and fuel, directly linked to the Iran conflict's impact on global supply chains.
•Myanmar, already facing civil war and humanitarian crisis following the 2021 coup, is highly vulnerable to these external shocks.
•Myanmar imports 90% of its fuel and 95% of its chemical fertilizers, making it heavily reliant on global markets.
•A 50% reduction in fertilizer use could lead to a 15% decrease in agricultural output in Myanmar.
•Prices for a 50kg sack of fertilizer have increased fivefold, reaching 200,000 Kyat (USD 48) in some areas.
•The Iran conflict is impacting global supply, with the Strait of Hormuz closure affecting up to 80% of oil transported by sea.
•Meteorologists predict El Niño could bring heatwaves and drought to parts of Southeast Asia, potentially starting this month.
•Myanmar was historically a major rice producer, but decades of conflict since independence, and the 2021 coup, have devastated its agriculture sector.

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Key Quotes

Zaw Naing

"If the prices keep going up, I will have to become a beggar."

ถ้าราคายังคงสูงขึ้นเรื่อยๆ ผมคงจะต้องเป็นขอทาน

Zaw Naing

"I might quit farming, but rice cultivation is what I love."

ผมอาจเลิกทำอาชีพเกษตรกร แต่การปลูกข้าวคือสิ่งที่ผมรัก

Zaw Naing

"The current situation is the most difficult time we have ever faced. My hope is nothing but the paddy fields."

สถานการณ์ปัจจุบันเป็นช่วงเวลาที่ยากลำบากที่สุดที่เราเคยเผชิญมา ความหวังของผมไม่มีอะไรเลยนอกจากนาข้าว

Moe Aung

"I do it because I have land, but now I don't want to anymore. I have no intention of continuing if this situation doesn't end."

ผมทำเพราะผมมีที่ดิน แต่ตอนนี้ผมไม่อยากทำแล้ว ผมไม่มีความตั้งใจที่จะทำต่อถ้าหากสถานการณ์นี้ยังไม่จบลง

Moe Aung

"I don't think expenses and income will match. Before, we could live comfortably, take care of parents, socialize. Our family was peaceful and happy, but all that is disappearing."

ผมไม่คิดว่ารายจ่ายและรายรับจะเท่ากัน ก่อนหน้านี้เราอยู่ได้สบาย ดูแลพ่อแม่ได้ ไปเที่ยวสังสรรค์ได้ ครอบครัวของเราสงบสุขและมีความสุข แต่ทั้งหมดนั้นกำลังหายไป

Su Su Nway

"If we continue on this path, farmers might disappear from the country. We don't want future generations to read history filled with doubt about whether these farmers actually existed."

ถ้าหากเรายังอยู่ในเส้นทางนี้ต่อไป เกษตรกรอาจหายไปจากประเทศ เราไม่ต้องการให้คนรุ่นหลังอ่านประวัติศาสตร์ที่เต็มไปด้วยความสงสัยว่าเกษตรกรเหล่านี้มีอยู่จริงหรือไม่

Key Entities

Person

Burmese Farmers(ชาวนาพม่า)

Individuals in Myanmar whose livelihoods are threatened by fertilizer and fuel shortages.

Zaw Naing(โซ นาย)

A 49-year-old Burmese farmer from near the town of Kyamu, expressing concerns about rising costs and potential bankruptcy.

Moe Aung(โม อ่อง)

A 53-year-old Burmese farmer struggling with debt and reduced fertilizer use due to increased costs.

Aung San Suu Kyi(อองซานซูจี)ℹ️

Popular democratic leader of Myanmar, whose elected government was overthrown by the 2021 coup and who remains under detention.

Su Su Nway(ซู ซู นเว)

Chairperson of the Myanmar Farmers Union, expressing deep concern about the future of farming in the country.

Place

Iran(อิหร่าน)ℹ️

Country whose conflicts are impacting global oil and fertilizer supply chains.

Myanmar(พม่า)ℹ️

Country experiencing civil war, humanitarian crisis, and agricultural challenges exacerbated by global events.

Kyamu(กอมู)

A town in southern Myanmar, near which farmer Zaw Naing cultivates his land.

Strait of Hormuz(ช่องแคบฮอร์มุซ)ℹ️

A strategic waterway whose closure due to conflict significantly affects global oil transportation.

Organization

International Energy Agency(องค์การพลังงานระหว่างประเทศ)ℹ️

Organization reporting on the impact of the Strait of Hormuz closure on oil transportation.

World Food Programme (WFP)(โครงการอาหารโลก (WFP))ℹ️

UN agency reporting on Myanmar's reliance on imported fertilizers and the potential agricultural impact of reduced use.

ACLEDℹ️

Monitoring group that reports on the casualty figures and displacement caused by the ongoing conflict in Myanmar.

United Nations(สหประชาชาติ)ℹ️

Organization providing data on displaced persons in Myanmar and describing the country as being in multiple crises.

Myanmar Farmers Union(สหภาพเกษตรกรพม่า)

Group representing farmers in Myanmar, warning of potential disappearance of farmers if current trends continue.