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Facilities for Farmers



FROM:Thinzar Khine, <Thinzar@xxxxxxxxxx>

Facilities for Farmers
Perspectives, the NLM, Wednesday, 18 March 1998

With vast stretches of fertile farmland Myanmar has a great potential to
boost the yield of crops not only for home consumption but also for the
ever increasing population in the world.  However, different regions in the
country are confronted with the problem of too much or too little water in
their drive to increase the agricultural output.  The Tatmadaw government
since the assumption of State responsibilities in 1988 has been building
dams and reservoirs to ensure regular supply of water not only for
agriculture but also for human consumption.

In the latest development, the Yaytho Reservoir in Oktwin Township, Bago
Division, was commissioned into service.  It is designed to irrigate 2,000
acres of farmland and provide the local people with drinking water.  It is
the 86th irrigation facility of its kind to have been commissioned into
service since the Tatmadaw government's taking over State duties in 1988.
At present, the new facilities are benefiting over 1.3 million acres of
farmland in the country.

At the same time, the government has encouraged farmers, who constitute the
large majority of the country's population, to maximize the use of
machinery and equipment in all stages of farming while extending loans to
them for the purpose.  It has also urged them to initiate multiple
cropping, advising them to be prudent and fair in their choice of cash
crops so that the chosen crops will meet the national requirements.

In this respect, three additional crops, namely, cotton, sugarcane and
beans and pulses, are designated together with paddy as the four-pillar
crops.  Well-conceived projects are under way to make the most beneficial
use of these four crops and farmers on their part are to play an active
role to boost the yield.

Speaking at the commissioning of the Yaytho Reservoir the other day,
Secretary-2 of the State Peace and Development Council Lt-Gen Tin Oo cited
positive developments in the agriculture sector such as introduction of
multiple cropping and the rise in per acre yield.  He said progress of the
agriculture sector will contribute towards a rise in national economy.

Obviously, the government is committed to the welfare and well-being of
farmers who constitute the largest majority.  It is prepared to take all
possible measures to benefit them.  Development projects in the rural areas
as well as border areas are just a few examples.  Under these
circumstances, harmonious cooperation between the government and the
nation's biggest work force will help build a peaceful, modern and
developed nation.
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