During this year, the yield of stone bugs has decreased and is getting a good price

Pajau Media Channel

Locals of Putao said that the part-time stone bugs hunting business, which many local people mainly work in, including Zia Dam village in Putao Township, is getting a good price this year, but the yield of stone bugs is decreasing.

“Although the political situation is not good, this year’s stone bugs market is good, but it is not convenient to go to the river and creeks that are close to the village because of the political situation,” the local said.

This year, from the middle of October, although stone bugs hunters are looking for a place along the river, but since the yield of stone bugs has decreased by almost 50% compared to the previous year, the income does not cover the family’s livelihood, according to Putao residents who went to look for it along the Zia Dam and the foot of the Ice Mountain.

The search and sale of stone bugs in the Putao area started in 2019, and in 2020, a cup of condensed milk fetched only 6,000 kyats. This year, a cup of stone bugs will cost from 30,000 kyats to 35,000 kyats. Locals said that they are getting a good price of more than 400,000 kyats per a viss.

In spite of the good price, the business of searching for stone bugs only caught in November and December. It is also said that due to the fact that it is only a part-time job, this year, compared to previous years, it is very rare, and it is not enough to support local families.

“During this year, those who come to look for stone bugs don’t even have free space along the creek. Crowded like a real event. Since stone bugs are so rare that they don’t even cover their travel expenses,” said a local from Zia Dam.

The stone bugs are mainly found in places the tributaries of the river, small streams and places near the banks of stone and large rocks. It is found in two types: big and small. But only the small ones get a good price said by local.

It is said that the stone bugs are mainly bought by China and sold from Putao to Myitkyina – Mandalay to China for up to 50,000 kyats per cup of condensed milk, and are mainly exported by car.

China uses these stone bugs to make medicine and spices. It is known that they are also used in the formulation of anti - hepatitis B virus and C virus.