Farms face labour shortage

Farms face labour shortage

By Su Phyo Win   |   Monday, 01 July 2013

As the population shifts from rural areas to cities, farms are facing acute labour shortages and higher costs, farm owners say.

"We have to pay workers more than before and give them advance pay and free meals," said U Soe Khaing, a farmer from Laymyatnhar township in Ayeyarwady Region. Workers began becoming scarce last year and the problem has intensified this year, he said.

Some farmers have had to reduce the amount of land they cultivate because they cannot find workers, he added. "Farm yields are at least 20 percent less than they were and the quality of paddy is not as high."

U Thein Aung, president of the Independent Farmers' Association, said low wages and lack of regular work had driven more than half of farm workers to cities.

"With the price of rice low and farmers struggling to repay debts, farm owners can't offer wages that will attract workers. Workers are going abroad, especially to Thailand and Malaysia, often illegally," he said.

Only elderly people and children remain in villages, U Thein Aung added.

Ko Mg Mg Gyi, who used to work on a farm in Shwebo township in Sagaing Region, said he went to Malaysia last year to earn money to support his family of 10.

Ko Mg Mg Gyi said he earned K400,000 a month at a factory in Malaysia, compared to the about K30,000 he earned in his village. Up to 70 percent of his village's adults had left the village in search of work, he said.

Source: http://www.news.myanmaronlinecentre.com/2013/07/06/farms-face-labour-shortage/