Mon farmers are facing many serious problems since the 2021 coup by the military State Administration Council (SAC: renamed State Security and Peace Commission in 2025). This commentary is based on recent conversations in farming communities in several townships in the Mon region. These were carried out towards the end of 2025, mostly with farmers living in areas under SAC-SSPC control, and reflects the challenges and worries of local people there. The Immediate Crisis: Climate and Crop DamageThe immediate struggles of Mon farmers in Myanmar are centred on the weather and crop viability. Rice is the staple food in communities across the country, and many people eat it two or three times a day. Mon people are no exception to this. "We mainly eat rice," said one. "As for side dishes, it depends on the circumstances of our life. Sometimes these are good, but sometimes not so good. Now, with the unseasonal rains, it really breaks the hearts of ordinary farmers like us."
Normally, November marks the start of the cold season when the rain has stopped, and most farmers begin harvesting their rice crops when the grains are ripe. However, farmers report that since the rice has been exposed to unusual rain this year, the crops are damaged and only a portion will be salvageable.
A farmer over 60 years old from Paung township detailed the impact:
"I have never seen rain at this time of year in my entire life. Some of the rice, which was harvested but not yet collected, has started sprouting again in the rains. Already, we couldn't plant the paddy properly this year because of the heavy rain in July. So the lives of farmers are extremely difficult. We invest a lot of money in planting rice but, when we sell the resulting paddy, the price is very low. Now that the rice is also damaged, I don't know if we will be able to eat regularly next year." | 
