Dropping agricultural outcome
The worth included by farming, forestry, and fishing was up to $ 12 7 billion in 2023, down from the pre-crisis degree of $ 15 5 billion in 2019 Reduced agricultural inputs as a result of climbing input costs, driven by currency exchange rate depreciation, in addition to protection problems and logistics interruptions, have led to persistently reduced manufacturing degrees considering that 2021
In 2024, rice production, a standard food in Myanmar, is projected to decline by 3 7 %, while maize outcome is anticipated to stop by 2 4 % Cereal manufacturing will likely remain to drop, as the farming market weakens under the collective influence of multiple shocks considering that 2021 These consist of severe weather condition events, ongoing dispute, and the damaging 7 7 -size quake that struck the nation on 28 March 2025
Dispute’s toll on agriculture
The extensive dispute that began in 2021 has substantially limited agricultural production across Myanmar. By 2024, the number of internally displaced individuals got to 3 5 million, primarily from backwoods. This mass variation disrupted resources and agricultural tasks by rendering farmland unattainable, lowering available labor and interrupting input supply and transportation networks, particularly in regions where accessibility to farmland continues to be limited. In severely affected areas, both growing and harvesting have actually been curtailed.
A 2024 research study by the International Food Plan Study Institute indicates that each additional conflict event per 1, 000 citizens correlates with a 14 % decrease in outcome worth and a 15 % drop in result worth per acre (0. 40 hectare). Additionally, 24 % of farmers influenced by the dispute have lowered their planting locations. Research study also shows that the problem depresses farm entrance costs, minimizing farm revenue and heightening hardship and food instability.
Increasing costs and currency stress on farmers
Between January 2024 and May 2025, the Myanmar kyat decreased by an average of over 24 %. Given that lots of agricultural inputs, such as plant foods, gas, and high quality seeds, are imported from bordering countries, this depreciation has significantly raised input costs.
Consequently, farmers face higher trouble managing necessary materials. This monetary stress has minimized investment in crop maintenance and farming facilities, additional weakening production degrees throughout the market.
Busted supply chains and market gain access to obstacles
Logistics disturbances have actually seriously influenced farming and food protection in Myanmar. Political instability and civil unrest remain to interrupt supply chains and restrict market access for both farmers and customers. Barricades, checkpoints, and safety and security risks prevent the transport of farming products from backwoods to urban markets, driving up costs and minimizing food accessibility.
These interruptions also restrict access to important solutions, including healthcare, water, cleanliness, and education and learning, placing an even greater worry on one of the most at risk populaces.
Environment shocks and all-natural disasters
Agricultural manufacturing in Myanmar, which depends greatly on weather conditions, continues to battle with the impacts of climate adjustment and natural dangers.
The country stays extremely at risk to severe weather condition occasions, which have actually grown extra regular and devastating recently. With a score of 9 out of 10 on the INFORM Index , a global disaster danger assessment device, Myanmar encounters a high danger of natural dangers and lacks appropriate preparedness to manage them.
Flooding make up 11 % of all catastrophes activated by all-natural risks, influencing more than two million individuals each year. In 2023, Cyclone Mocha created $ 2 24 billion in damages, equivalent to virtually 3 4 % of Myanmar’s GDP. In 2024, catastrophic floodings from Typhoon Yagi and extreme monsoon rainfalls influenced over one million individuals throughout 70 towns, submerging crops and animals and seriously impacting livelihoods. Limited resources postponed early recovery initiatives.
The 7 7 -size earthquake on 28 March 2025 additionally magnified food insecurity. It damaged over 3 7 million hectares of cropland and important framework, including irrigation systems, storage space centers, and agricultural possessions. According to reports from the Food and Farming Organization and the World Financial institution, the earthquake interrupted gathering , lowered food availability, and boosted susceptabilities in already crisis-affected regions. Architectural damages are approximated at $ 11 billion or concerning 14 % of GDP. Initial findings from an ADB research study suggest that about 22 % of the complete populace and 12 % of farming GDP in the hardest-hit areas were negatively impacted.
These food safety obstacles have likewise grown socioeconomic inequalities and fueled dispute, compromising administration and institutional capability to respond properly to several, overlapping situations.
Rising appetite and rising cost of living
Food insecurity has actually escalated swiftly, affecting 15 2 million individuals or 28 % of Myanmar’s populace in 2024– 2025, contrasted to less than 6 million prior to 2021
Along with continuous conflict, trade disturbances, and declining food manufacturing, a sharp decrease in job opportunities and soaring inflation have further minimal accessibility to food, especially for marginalized and at risk teams. Between February 2024 and February 2025, rates of fundamental food products surged : rice increased by 14 %, grease by 49 %, pulses by 35 %, eggs by 83 %, and salt by 47 %. Inflation continued to be in dual digits, balancing 27 8 % in 2024 and predicted to reach 29 3 % in 2025, driven by steep rises in both food and non-food prices.
To deal, food-insecure houses have reduced food spending and boosted borrowing. According to a United Nations record , eating less is a typical coping technique among houses in the lowest property quintiles, bring about health and wellness and nourishment problems and long-term unfavorable results on the cognitive growth of youths. These households also encounter limited loaning alternatives and often fail to satisfy microfinance financing requirements. Therefore, numerous turn to informal money loan providers who bill high rates of interest, increasing the threat of falling into long-lasting debt traps.