Burma: Weather boosts pesticide sales

Insect infestation caused by cloudy weather has spurred soaring sales of pesticides, farmers and distributors in Yangon Region say.

Pesticide sales depend heavily on the weather. Sales have risen since September because persistent cloudy conditions favour the spread of insects that feed off the crops, said a spokesperson for pesticide distributors Marlarmyaing Enterprises.

“We’ve already achieved 65 percent of our sales target for the whole year,” said U Ohn Thein, the company’s general manager at Kamaryut township.

“Demand for pesticides could be 50pc higher than it was this time last year,” he added. Some farmers can spend K2 million to fertilise an acre of honeydew melons, but others can’t afford pesticides,” he said.

Pesticides range in price from K1000 to K10,000 a bottle, or more. Sales levels depend not only on weather, but also on the market price of the crop and the farmers’ expansion plans.

“This year sales of pesticides are up by more than 15pc because farmers are investing more in the hope of gaining higher prices for their beans, like they did last year,” said U Aye Kyaw, director of Myint Mo Myint Trading at Kyauktada township.

Crops fall victim to various kinds of parasites, which eat leaves, suck the water from branches and eat the fruit.

“We concentrate on pesticides that protect beans because they are particularly subject to insect infestation.

“Once every five years or so they can destroy a crop unless farmers use pesticides,” said Daw Theingin Soe, assistant general manager of Pan Agro Bio Products at Sanchaung township.

“Another reason sales are so good this year is because the market price of beans is high,” she said.

Farmers can spend from K40,000 to K100,000 an acre on pesticides, said U Aye Kyaw. The company advises farmers on the correct use of pesticides, and how to avoid overuse.

“Excessive pesticide use could harm not only the crops, but also the human and animal consumers,” said an agricultural adviser with Marlarmyaing Enterprises. “They have to be used carefully for the sake of your field, your animals and yourself,” he said.

Pesticide companies are often content to await payment until after the harvest, when farmers’ income is at its peak, in November and December.