Because far fewer large trucks can reach the Chin State capital Hakha, bags of rice that previously cost 120,000 MMK have risen in price to 200,000 MMK since the beginning of the year.
The price of rice and other staple foods have risen in Hakha because the main road between Kale (Kalay) Township in neighbouring Sagaing Region is currently impassable due to ongoing fighting that started on 9 November 2024, in and around Falam Town in Chin State’s Falam Township,.
The journey between Kale and Hakha usually takes about one day but now that the main road is closed it takes two or three days because vehicles going to Hakha have to take a longer detour on smaller roads that are unsuitable for large trucks.
A Hakha resident said to Khonumthung: “Prices haven’t gone down; instead, everything is getting more expensive. Rice prices now range from 200,000 to 250,000 MMK per bag, depending on the type. The only open route is suitable for small vehicles, but rice is best transported by large cargo trucks. When those trucks have to take a longer route, fuel costs rise significantly. What used to be a one-day trip between Kale and Hakha now takes two or three nights on the road. Plus, it’s necessary to bypass Falam Town, where fighting is ongoing.”
A housewife from Hakha said: “Since early 2025, the price hikes have become too much to bear. Some are starting to question whether it’s still worth staying in Hakha. I also wonder if these steep price increases are only happening here. It is a common practice here to buy rice in bulk, even when locals are facing financial hardships, and shops allow purchases on credit. The price of rice in Hakha has soared ever since the fighting in Falam made travel difficult.”
The junta has stationed troops at the intersection near the entrance to Hakha City, where they are checking motorbikes entering the city. They are also carrying out frequent patrols in and around the city.