Thai rice has taken over the rice market in the Myanmar-Thailand border town of Myawady due to the rain and the road conditions, the closure of some rice shops and high demand.

On June 9, the locals were in upheaval due to the closure of almost all rice shops in Myawady town, a resident of Ward No. 4 said.

"A few days ago, we searched for rice all over the city. When sales are closed and the shop doors are closed, it is very disappointing that rice is not sold because it has run out and that there are rice shops that do not want to sell it. Yesterday, I bought Thai rice because I couldn't find rice," he said.

A rice shop owner said that since June 13, some rice shops have reopened, but there are no trucks carrying local rice coming in, and they are currently only selling broken rice and Thai rice as substitutes.

"Asia Road is still closed. When the trucks loaded with the cargos came up from the old road through Myapadai via the village road. The drivers didn't dare to stop on the side of the road when they met the trucks from the other way. It may make the truck to turn over. They had to wait on the road for months. We cannot use Htotkawko Road. Right now, the store only has Shwebo, a kind of white rice and broken rice. Thai white rice is sold at 185,000 kyats per 22-lb bag of rice," said a rice shop owner near Bayint Naung Market.

Due to the closure of rice shops and rising prices in Myawady town, common people and locals are facing difficulties, according to the locals.