By Ma Ma  - May 27, 2024

Basic class people are having difficulties to buy palm oil as the family business shops that sell palm oils are closed.

At present, palm oil is being sold on a rationed basis. In the wards, a family is allowed to buy ngase tha  (1.8 lb) with the oil purchasing cards.

“We don’t get the cards. So, we have to buy in the market which cost 1,000 kyats more. But it is difficult when they don’t sell,” said a housewife from Shwe Pyi Thar.

It is reported that even though some wards have a card to buy palm oil once every three days, there are also some wards that no longer get it.

In addition, manual laborers have financial and time constraints to extract oil.

“Its past 9’oclock when they give the oil card. We have reached to the factory at that time and when we come back its too late to buy. It is not comfortable for asking other people to buy palm oil for us if we don’t give a 500 – 1,000 kyats stipend. We just buy some equivalent amounts of 1,000 kyats nearby. Its like we don’t get the palm oil cards at all,” said a factory worker.

Currently, it is set to be sold at only with an additional small higher price of transportation than the government's set price with only a small addition of transportation costs and general expenses. In practice, it is casually inspected whether the sale is in accordance with the instructions or not without authorities’ uniform.

“They sold with higher price when inspectors wear like undercover. The whole market have to sign pledge after being caught. They said those who sell again will be sentenced in prison for 3 years and the shop had to be closed. We can’t sell with 1,000 kyats when we are not buying with the price they set. I feel set for my customers when I can’t sell anymore,” said a shopkeeper who is selling palm oil in the municipal market.

At present, the price of palm oil per peittha (3.6 lb) is published daily, and it has been reported that they are working to stabilize the price.