It is unlikely that the farmers may undergo famine or hunger although they are the primary food producers. But millions of smallholder or subsistence farmers are experiencing acute hunger or famine in Myanmar. I will discuss this by using a case analysis through interviewing farmers in Myanmar. According to the latest Hunger Hotspots Report  Myanmar is facing acute hunger with 16.7 million people - nearly one in three - are acutely food insecure. In Myanmar, there is a saying that means roughly "Farmers bleed when politics and economy clash”. This bitter truth reflects the ongoing struggles faced by farmers in Myanmar.

Last week, I had an in-depth conversation with farmers in the Bago Region, Myanmar, who have been producing rice and other crops for decades. The farmers said that “even though we try our best to feed our families, there are days that we do not have enough food to eat for many months.” The current situation can be called a “polycrisis” that has multidimensional impacts on their crop production and household food security.

The military takeover abruptly dismantled the progress made in protecting farmers by the previous democratically elected government. The ensuing civil war and political unrest caused widespread chaos in trade, transportation, and market stability. The escalation of violence led to inflation and disrupted supply chains, further damaging the agricultural sector. Farmers faced skyrocketing input costs, including fertilizers, seeds, and fuel for timely planting and harvesting. As prices for inputs soared, farmers' profitability declined sharply. At the same time, the prices for their crops became extremely volatile. Table 1 shows the total cost and revenue for one acre of rice in the Bago Region. Monsoon rice was produced between mid-May and the end of September. After 4-6 months of cultivating, the earnings of farmers remained as low as -42.22 and -28.89 USD for producing Manawthukha rice. Farmers have yet to reap the advantages of their investment in the Emahta rice variety. This is because the market price for one basket of rice ranges was record low as 11,000 MMK for Manawthukha variety and 13,000 MMK for Emahta variety. Brokers, of course, wary of increased risks, began offering lower prices to avoid potential losses. This forced farmers into a situation where they invested in their crops through loans, often at high-interest rates, to cover costs. Many farmers relied on borrowed money that they could not pay back due to the collapsing market prices. This debt cycle pushed them into poverty, threatening their livelihoods and well-being.

Instead of supporting farmers or stabilizing the market, the military government remained passive. Their inaction worsened the situation, and they could not provide any protection against market collapse or address trade disruptions caused by ongoing civil conflicts. For example, the trade routes with neighboring countries like China and India became unstable, and farmers lost access to profitable markets. The likelihood of widespread famine becomes an imminent danger. The country's agricultural backbone is breaking down, and it directly impacts food availability, nutrition, and rural livelihoods.

Urgent Call for Action

The international community, especially United Nations organizations like the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in Myanmar, and other important institutes like the Myanmar Rice Federation, NGOs, and local community groups, must recognize this alarming crisis.  Farmers need practical solutions, neither a guideline nor siloed approaches. Food and emergency aid are part of the solutions in times of crises, but farmers rather need self-confidence and self-reliance through making profits over their investment in farming.

It is imperative that action be taken immediately to prevent a humanitarian disaster. Such measures should include:

• Implementing emergency support programs for farmers

• Providing affordable credit and debt relief

• Establishing fair market channels and price support systems

• Restoring and protecting trade routes and export markets

• Offering technical and logistical assistance to rebuild agricultural infrastructure

Moreover, Myanmar's Ministry of Agriculture must prioritize farmers' welfare. Department staff should stop silo thinking and should be directed to focus on assisting farmers. Community-led organizations and farmer cooperatives can also play a vital role in taking proactive steps.

Finally, I am curious whether smallholder farmers worldwide may be impacted by food insecurity and/or hunger. Regardless of conflicts, inefficient government systems, inadequate protective policies, or anything else, all farmers truly deserve to have enough food so they can produce foods to feed everyone on the planet.

 WFP and FAO. 2025. Hunger Hotspots. FAO–WFP early warnings on acute food insecurity: June to October 2025 outlook. Rome. https://doi.org/10.4060/cd5684en 

[Blog preview photo credit: blog author Aung Tun Oo during his field visit in the dry zone of Myanmar]