Kantarawaddy Times
“Our plants had sprouted, but then the heavy rains came, and the plants disappeared. We’ll have to replant again before the end of June,” said 40-year-old Daw Tar Meh, a displaced woman growing sesame near Pon Chaung IDP camp in the eastern part of Dee Maw Hso Township, Karenni State.
Along the Pon Chaung stream, both locals and displaced people cultivate sesame as a means of livelihood. Many displaced persons have used their savings to invest in farming, particularly as support from donor organizations has decreased due to prolonged displacement. As a result, they are increasingly relying on subsistence farming to survive.
To secure a long-term food supply, Daw Tar Meh rented two acres of farmland from local villagers to grow sesame.
However, just a week after sowing, heavy rains destroyed the newly sprouted plants. They have to face this unpredictable weather year after year, which can cause the destruction of their farms.
After planting, farmers hope their sesame plants will survive and yield well. But due to the non-stop rain in May, most of the sesame planted along Pon Chaung failed to sprout. Therefore, this incident forced farmers to prepare for a second round of planting.
“It’s frustrating. Just when we’re happy to see it growing, but if the crops are not good enough, it is also frustrating. Farming is like gambling. It’s tough being a farmer. You only eat what you earn,” said 39-year-old Daw Nae Meh, another displaced farmer who grows sesame.
This year, because of heavy rainfall, many sesame crops didn’t sprout or survive. Sesame is primarily grown for food. The income it generates is used for kitchen supplies and children’s education. A small amount of groundnuts is also grown and pressed into oil for household use.
Most displaced families lease farmland from locals to grow sesame and groundnuts. When harvest season comes, they repay landowners with either cash, seeds, or oil from the groundnuts in a mutually beneficial arrangement.
The IDP camp where Daw Tar Meh stays has 88 households, with a total population of 212. About half of them are unable to access leased farmland. Since basic food supplies from donors are irregular and uncertain, getting permission to farm leased land has become essential for their survival.
“We try our best to help find land for those who need it. We talk to landowners, negotiate the price, and explain situations like how some don’t have any relatives or land and want to work to survive. Some succeed, but if some don’t, this is all of our effort,” said U Soe Lin, the camp’s chairman, about their efforts to help displaced people gain access to farmland.
A good sesame yield is essential to cover the lease costs, labor fees, and also to provide additional income for basic needs.
In September 2024, heavy rains across Karenni State caused widespread losses for displaced sesame farmers. After two consecutive years of crop failure, many have invested more in hopes of better yields this year.
“If this year fails again due to bad weather or crop failure, it’s going to be really hard for our families to survive,” said 50-year-old U Boe Reh, a displaced farmer.
Sesame is mainly grown in warmer areas of Dee Maw Hso, Loikaw, Shardaw, and Bawlakhe townships. Since most of it is cultivated along streams, there’s growing concern about rising water levels during the rainy season.
Last year, sesame sold for 8,500 kyat per viss, but the price for this year remains unknown.
“It’s not just for me or my family. I want a good harvest for everyone, so we can all have enough food and afford our children’s education expenses,” U Boe Reh added.
As displacement drags on and needs continue to grow on all sides, displaced families in Karenni State are placing their hopes on good sesame yields from rented farmland as a key source of livelihood.
