Local Products Decrease in Price While Market Consumer Goods Continue to Rise, Leaving Residents Struggling

Pajau Media

19 November 2025

Due to the current situation, consumer goods and commodity prices in the Putao township market have not decreased at all but continue to rise steadily. Meanwhile, locally produced food items and products that should enter the local market are falling in price. As a result, local residents are increasingly struggling with daily living expenses, food, and basic needs.

Farmers report that essential local products of Putao, including winter crops and grapefruit, have significantly dropped in price. Additionally, paddy (rice) prices have fallen, causing financial hardship for the people.

“This year has been an extremely difficult year for all small-scale farmers in Putao. Last year, during the harvest season, one pyi of paddy (8 baskets) could be sold for up to 35,000 kyats. But this year, no one is even willing to pay 15,000 kyats. Now that fruit season has arrived, even if we try to sell fruits, grapefruit is only selling at 150 kyats per piece. Six or seven years ago, one grapefruit still sold for 300 to 400 kyats. Now the value of money has dropped, and the prices of our local crops have fallen so much that we can no longer earn anything. We can’t make a living anymore,” a farmer said.

Residents added that commodity prices in the market continue to rise as road conditions worsen. Fuel prices also remain above 10,000 kyats per liter, with no sign of decreasing, causing further difficulties.

In the Putao region, except for gold and other high-value forest products, most crops grown by farmers have dramatically decreased in price. Political instability has created many barriers for transporting and selling local produce. Moreover, the presence of numerous toll gates along the Myitkyina-Putao road has made it difficult to sell local crops, leading to further price drops and reduced demand.

News: Mali Hku