CJ/Kantarawaddy Times
In Karenni State’s Pruso Township, particularly in Dala Kyo village, chili farmers are facing significant losses due to damaged crops and reduced yields, according to local sources.
Residents of this village rely on chili farming as their primary source of income. As a result, the current losses are not only affecting their livelihoods but also making it increasingly difficult to cover daily expenses and school fees for their children, said local farmers from the Dala Kyo village tract.
“Since 2022-23, we have been unable to sell chilies, and there has been no income at all. It has become more challenging to afford school expenses for our children. Our only source of income is from selling chilies. We tried replanting, but the drought has made water scarce, leading to even greater losses,” said the village chairperson of Ko Soe.
Ko Soe village has around 20 households, most of whom rely entirely on chili farming for their livelihood. Although chili prices were favorable in 2024, farmers could not take advantage of it due to widespread crop damage, leaving them with little to no produce to sell, a local woman explained.
“In 2024, chili prices were high, but crop productivity was low. The fields were damaged, which significantly affected production. I was only able to harvest a small amount of chilies, and I had to sell them all for 40,000 kyats just to cover my child’s school expenses,” she stated.
Following the military coup, some internally displaced people (IDPs) have also sought refuge in Ko Soe village. Currently, both the local residents and IDPs depend on chili farming for survival.
However, with the crops failing and yields dwindling, villagers are deeply worried not only about their daily sustenance but also about their children’s education, local people reported.
