K500,000 profit set for acre of low-grade monsoon paddy

Farmers in the Ayeyawady Region can enjoy nearly K500,000 in profit from cultivating one acre of monsoon paddy, according to the reference prices to buy monsoon paddy issued by authorities.
Cultivation and production cost for an acre of Aemahta/Zeeya and Ngasein is K658,500 including K37,500 for paddy, K240,000 for three kinds of inputs and insecticides, K18,000 natural fertilizer, K163,000 for ploughing, K90,000 for harvesting, K40,000 for labour costs and K70,000 for general costs, according to the official data.
Paddy cultivation and production cost per acre of Ayeyawady Pawsan is K769,500 while Shwebo Pawsan stands at K840,000 and Ayeya Padaytha/Ayeyamin varieties cost K712,500.
According to the data, the production cost for a basket of low-grade monsoon paddy is K8,780 while Ayeyawady Pawsan stands at K11,830. Shwebo Pawsan and Ayeya Padaytha/ Ayeya Min varieties cost K12,923 and K10,179 for a basket.
The 2023 reference prices for monsoon paddy states that an acre of low-grade monsoon paddy can earn K975,000 to K1,125,000 while Ayeyawady Pawsan, Shwebo Pawsan and Ayeya Padaytha/ Ayeyamin varieties fetch K1,040,000 to K1,170,000, K1,170,000 to K1,300,000 and K1,120,000 to K1,260,000. The data indicates that farmers can earn a profit of K300,000 to K400,000 from an acre of low-grade monsoon paddy cultivation while an acre of cultivation of Ayeyawady Pawsan, Shwebo Pawsan and Ayeya Padaytha/Ayeyamin varieties can result in a profit of nearly K400,000.
Cultivation and production cost for an acre of paddy in many parts of the delta area in 2023 may be K100,000 less than mentioned above.
The price for a 100-basket of low-grade monsoon paddy was K1.3 million, while each of Ayeyawady Pawsan and Shwebo Pawsan was K1.5 million in 2022. The prices increased to K1.8 million for 100-basket of low-grade monsoon paddy while 100-basket of Ayeyawady Pawsan and Shwebo Pawsan climbed to K2.8 million and K3.7 million between August and September 2023, earning more profits for merchants who keep paddy than farmers. — TWA/TH