Secretary-1 Lt-Gen Thein Sein inspects harvesting of summer paddy sample plot at 1,000-acre summer paddy zone in Hlegu Township

YANGON, 2 April — The harvesting of sample plot of summer paddy and demonstration of technology for setting target paddy production were held at the 1,000-acre summer paddy zone near Malit Village in Hlegu Township this morning, attended by Secretary-1 of the State Peace and Development Council Lt-Gen Thein Sein.

Also present on the occasion were Chairman of Yangon Division Peace and Development Council Commander of Yangon Command Maj-Gen Myint Swe, station commander and military region commanders, local authorities, departmental officials and local farmers. Accompanied by the commander and party, the Secretary-1 visited the agricultural education camp of Myanma Agriculture Service in the zone.

The Secretary-1 and party oversaw thriving of Emahtasaw, Hmawby-3 and Yezin-2 paddy plantations, pilot plot and other sample paddy plots. Managing Director U Ohn Than of MAS and General Manager Dr Min Aung presented reports to them.

Afterwards, the Secretary-1, the commander and party viewed demonstration of paddy harvesting in the Emahtasaw paddy plantation of U Aung Soe with the use of CG 310 harvester and winnowing tasks. In addition, they viewed harvesting of summer paddy sample plot which yielded 128 baskets of paddy per acre.

At the temporary pandal, the Secretary-1 met with local farmers. In his address, Secretary-1 Lt-Gen Thein Sein said that Myanmar, an agro-based country, is striving for development of the industrial sector. Being an agricultural country, the role of uplift of agricultural sector and increase of agricultural produce is very important. As the government is facilitating construction of cluster of dams and river water pumping projects across the country for ensuring development of the agricultural sector, local farmers, on their part, should make utmost efforts for meeting the set target and boosting per-acre yield. Not only for ensuring local food sufficiency but also for exporting surplus food, it is necessary to cultivate high yield paddy strains and use chemical and natural fertilizers with the use of correct methods. Furthermore, emphasis is to be placed on use of pesticide in their farms for boosting per-acre yield. As the land of Myanmar is a fertile region, efforts are to be made for improvement of individual living standard of local farmers by utilizing precious land for agricultural purpose so as to contribute towards emergence of a modern and developed nation in the future.