Arakanese farmers call for enhancing local seed varieties

By Admin 31 Aug 2023

DMG Newsroom
31 August 2023, Sittwe

Local seed varieties are disappearing due to the widespread use of alternatives made using new technologies in Arakan State’s agricultural sector, according to farmers.

Farmers are using technologically produced seeds that can be easily bought and grown, including vegetables such as eggplant, pepper, cucumber, beans, gourds, and ferns.

“Local seeds have become almost non-existent. In the past, farmers rarely planted winter crops such as peppers and eggplants, but now, they easily buy and grow seeds sold by agricultural shops,” said U Maung Kyaw Thaung, a local farmer from Malakyun Village in Kyaukphyu Township.

“There is a lot of difference in yield between traditionally grown seeds and chemically modified seeds, and the advantages of quick cash flow are also different,” said U Aung Kyaw Hla, a local farmer from Nyaungbinhla Village in Mrauk-U Township.

“Transgenic seeds cannot be reproduced, so farmers have to buy the seeds once they are planted. Local seeds are gradually disappearing, so there is a need to combine local seeds with systematic techniques to make them pure,” said Ko Ye Tun Myint, manager of Rakhine Organic Land, an agricultural technical support group.

“Local seeds should be embraced, but we should also try to embrace them productively. The government should try to develop local seeds. An individual farmer cannot do these things, a government must lead these sectors,” said U Kyaw Zan, chairman of the Arakan Farmers’ Union.