In Ayeyawady Region, 5.2 million acres are devoted to paddy cultivation out of a total of 17 million acres across Myanmar. The Agriculture Department reports that of the 15 million acres dedicated to monsoon paddy in Myanmar, 3,756,805 acres are in this region.
Each acre of monsoon paddy typically yields 82.24 baskets. However, in this area, the average yield per acre has increased to around 70 baskets.
Monsoon paddy is grown in eight districts in the Ayeyawady Region, with the Pyapon district being the largest, covering 878,325 acres. Myaungmya district, with three townships, has 521,964 acres of monsoon paddy, while Labutta district, with only two townships, cultivates 589,980 acres.
Previously, there was only one Myaungmya district, encompassing Labutta and Myaungmya districts. Under the former arrangement, Myaungmya district had the highest paddy output among the five districts in the Ayeyawady Region.
Under the new structure, the highest yield of monsoon paddy comes from the five townships in the Myaungmya and Labutta districts. Additionally, about 1.5 million acres are used for summer paddy cultivation, along with various beans and chilli crops.
In 2024, 13,107 acres in Kyaiklat Township, 111,969 acres in Bogale Township, and 86,754 acres in Pyapon Township of the Pyapon District were dedicated to summer paddy. Due to the prevalence of saltwater in most townships of the Pyapon and Labutta districts, there is less cultivation of summer paddy compared to monsoon paddy.
Given the abundant rice production, Pawsan rice from Myaungmya, Pyapon, Bogale, and Mawgyun is in high demand in the Yangon rice market. Broken rice, mainly from the Myaungmya region, is transported by water to the Pakokku area almost daily.
The prices of rice, mung beans, and green grams are expected to increase between 2023 and 2024, benefiting rice and bean producers in Ayeyawady Region. — TWA/MKKS
