Farmers could fetch reasonable profits and generate more income if they can engage in both farming and breeding while practising triple cropping pattern growing marketable crops as well

NAYPYITAW, 29 April-President of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar U Thein Sein attended a harvesting ceremony of 369 acres of high-yield Palethwe hybrid paddy in Alyinlo Village, Pyinmana Township of Nay Pyi Taw Council Area this morning.

The President, accompanied by Union Minister for Agriculture and Irrigation U Myint Hlaing, Union Minister for Cooperatives and for Livestock and Fisheries U Ohn Myint, Union Minister for Industry U Soe Thein and Chairman U Tin Htut of Pyithu Hluttaw Peasant, Worker and Youth Affairs Committee, arrived at the modern advanced farmland in the village at 9.15 am and was welcomed by Union Minister at President Office Chairman of Nay Pyi Taw Council Mayor U Thein Nyunt, Union Minister for Commerce U Win Myint and Deputy Ministers for Agriculture and Irrigation U Ohn Than and U Khin Zaw and departmental heads.

First, the President cordially greeted the farmers of the village and left instructions on agricultural development.

Next, he viewed the thriving plantation of 95-dayold Palethwe hybrid paddy grown with GAP system.

The President and party then attended the harvesting ceremony and viewed harvesting of paddy with three harvesters, which can harvest 4 to 6 acres per day. On the contrary, manual harvesting of one acre takes 12 people a day.

At the briefing hall of agricultural technique camp, the President heard a report by Union Minister U Myint Hlaing on cultivation of 16134074 acres of monsoon paddy and 2476129 acres of summer paddy across the nation in 2011-2012 totalling 18610203 acres, nation-wide cultivation of 10130 acres of Palethwe hybrid paddy in summer paddy cultivation season and cultivation of 21006 acres of summer paddy including 2340 acres of Palethwe hybrid paddy in Nay Pyi Taw Council Area.

In order to be able to grow the hybrid paddy in summer, in the rainy season of 2011-2012, Palethwe hybrid paddy seeds were produced at the 100 acres of land of Yezin University of Agriculture and at the 100 acres of land in Shwetaung plantation in Wundwin Township, Meiktila District, Mandalay Region.

The Union Minister also reported on production of 100 acres of Palethwe hybrid paddy seeds and Basmati hybrid paddy seeds at Yezin University in the summer paddy season of 2011-2012; 100 acres of Palethwe hybrid paddy seeds and 100 acres of Basmati hybrid paddy seeds in Shwetaung plantation in Wundwin Township, Meiktila District, Mandalay Region; 300 acres of Palethwe hybrid paddy seeds at International Sun Moon Star Co Ltd of the special mechanized farming zone in Dagon Myothit (East) of Yangon Region; 50 acres at Dagon International Co Ltd; 100 acres at Green Asia Co Ltd; 50 acres at Hsinshweli Co Ltd; 25 acres each in Kayin State and Mon State; and three acres in Ayeyawady Region totalling 853 acres for increased cultivation of up to 0.1 million acres of Palethwe hybrid paddy and production of 1053 acres of Palethwe hybrid paddy seeds in 2011-2012.

Chairman of Nay Pyi Taw Council Mayor U Thein Nyunt reported on cultivation of 163206 acres of monsoon paddy in the cultivation season of 2011- 2012 against the target of 164048 acres and production of 13.972 million baskets of paddy (85.61 baskets per acre) in Nay Pyi Taw Council Area; cultivation of 21006 acres of summer paddy exceeding the target of 19380 acres accounting for 108.39 percent; reclamation of advanced farmlands – 500 acres in Pobbathiri Township, 315 acres in Dekkhinathiri Township, 369 acres in Pyinmana Township, 393 acres in Zabuthiri Township and 41 acres in Ottarathiri Township totalling 1618 acres and plans to reclaim 637 acres in Tekyigon Village, Aungchantha Village and Alyinlo Village in Zabuthiri Township, 250 acres in Nyaungbingyisu in Pobbathiri Township and 650 acres in Nyaunggon Village and Yanaungmyin Village in Dekkhinathiri Township, totalling 1537 acres.

Then, he also reported on giving agricultural loans– K 68.490 million for 1713 acres of 432 farmers in two townships under the arrangement of Mya Sein Yaung Cooperative Society, K 1367.800 million for 27356 acres of 8863 farmers in Zeyathiri Township under Zeya Multi-crops Production Co, K 1120.80 million for 20244 acres of 6434 farmers in Pobbathiri Township under Aung Thiri Foundation and K 516.320 million for 15029 acres of 3396 farmers in five townships under Nay Pyi Taw Council totalling K 3079.410 million for 64343.80 acres of 19125 farmers and measures being taken to collect debts.

Next, Deputy Minister U Ohn Than explained such strong points of the hybrid Palethwe paddy strains as stronger root structure, 150 up to 200 baskets of rice per acre yield, longer lifespan (110-120 days), followed by local farmers who affirmed high quality, high yield and commercial viability of Palethwe hybrid paddy strains, and measures for extension of sown acreage.

In his instructions to the Union ministers, deputy ministers and local farmers on agricultural development drive, the President highlighted the worrying trends of growing food demand following the global increase in population. He warned that though Myanmar had food sufficiency as it was rich in water and land resources, steps were to be taken to make sure there was enough food for the anticipated potential population of 100 million in the future and to export the surplus abroad.

As arable land could be extended no more, measures were being taken to boost the yield on current arable land. Thanks to the shift to Palethwe hybrid paddy strains combined with modern agricultural patterns, farmlands which used to yield only 50 baskets of rice could now produce 100 baskets of rice per acre.

The President added that growing of marketable crops was subject to farmers, calling for non-extinction of world-class quality Pawhsanhmwe rice.

Myanmar was working hard to become industrialized nation based on agriculture.

Agricultural development was a major programme in rural development and poverty alleviation scheme. Only the majority of the peasantry was well-off, could the nation be prosperous. He said he had made serious discussions about reclamation of flooded farmland, construction of dykes in farmlands prone to salt water because of disaster, production of paddy seeds, construction of modern rice mills, human resources development, technical assistance, projects in Ayeyawady Delta and provision of modern farming equipment for agricultural development during his goodwill visit to Japan.

Likewise, arrangements were being made for formation of agricultural produce cooperative syndicates- with farmland of 500 acres and above as one syndicate.

Such syndicates would be founded systematically and provided with modern farming equipment and capital for further socio-economic development of farmers under cooperative sector and private sector. Such syndicates had been initiated now. Farmers could fetch reasonable profits and generate more income if they can engage in both farming and breeding while practicing triple-cropping-pattern growing marketable crops as well. The President then urged the farmers to equip themselves with diligence, industry and willing mind for self-development and better life. He promised that the government would help them in their hard work.

The President and party then went to 10-acre modern Palethwe hybrid paddy seed nursery in Kyaku Village of Dekkhinathiri Township and heard reports on agricultural patterns and seed production and cultivation of 21 different kinds of hybrid paddy strains presented by Union Minister U Myint Hlaing and Chinese agriculturalist Mr Kapa Zhang.

The President put questions for his knowledge and presented a fruit basket to Chinese agriculturalists. The President then viewed cultivation of hybrid rice plants in the farm and cordially greeted local farmers of Kyaku Village.
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