Message of Greetings sent by President U Win Myint on the occasion of the Peasants Day Celebrations

Message of Greetings sent by President U Win Myint on the occasion of the Peasants Day Celebrations

ပြန်ကြားရေးဝန်ကြီးဌာန/ နေပြည်တော် / November 09, 2020

2 March 2020

Dear esteemed peasants, our benefactors,

On this auspicious Peasants Day, full of significance, I send this message of greetings and good wishes for the good health and well-being of all peasants and for their agricultural productions tasks to be successful by leaps and bounds.

For the development of our nation, export promotion and industrial development are important. So also is food security. Therefore, we have laid down a policy and have been working from all sectors in accordance with the 12 point - Myanmar Economic Policy which stated that efforts will be made to develop a balanced economic system which promotes harmonious development of the agricultural sector, livestock sector and industrial sector for integrated development, food security, and export promotion.

All the peasants who are working in the agricultural and livestock sector, play a vital role in the nation’s economy as they are contribute to the daily food requirements of the people as well as income derived from exports. Therefore, since the socio-economic development of peasants, protection of their rights, and sustainable development of agricultural production are important for national development, we have been strenuously working for protection of peasants’ rights by using the laws and bylaws relating to the agricultural sector.

Since the people of the world including the Myanmar people of today are more well-informed and knowledgeable, they have been consuming healthy food products and therefore it is necessary that agricultural produce sold within the country as well as abroad are of high quality, high standard and free from harmful elements.

In order to build good basic foundations, our Union Government has been working to increase the productivity rate of agricultural and livestock produce as well as to ensure the food security of our citizens and to promote the competitiveness of agricultural products in the international market. To make this happen we have issued relevant guidelines to provide education for production of agricultural and livestock produce in line with good agricultural practices, good practices for raising livestock, and good practices for farming of aquatic animals; we have also taken action to ensure the quality of vegetables, fruits, and farm vegetables, ensure the quality of fish and meat, to make sure that there are no chemical residues, and techniques to reduce post-harvest loss.

For sustainable production of agricultural and livestock produce and for the people to be able to consume nutritious and safe agricultural and livestock produce free from harmful chemicals, in safety and with full confidence, we have issued a statement, the Myanmar organic standards, based on ASEAN organic standards in order to promote the systematic development of organic agriculture in the agricultural sector; and also to make sure that organic standards are strictly adhered to. By giving due regard and abiding by these organic standards, our peasants can penetrate new markets, gain better profits and also gain good merits.

Dear esteemed peasants, our benefactors,

At the present time, due to climate change we are witnessing natural disasters such as drought, floods, hail storms, forest fires, storms and land-slides which are affecting the socio-economic life of peasants.

In the MSDP – Myanmar Sustainable Development Plan (2018 – 2030), Pillar Three “People and Planet”, we have designated Goal Five as “re-sources and environment for the nation’s future generations”. We are working in full coordination with various sectors and performing the tasks of conserving the environment, and reduce the effects of climate change. 
 
In accordance with the changing climate, we are working to ensure that we can use water beneficially and effectively. We are undertaking the following tasks and giving demonstrations and educational talks: - planting fast yielding crops that need little water, changing the crop varieties based on the region and situation, in paddy cultivation to use irrigation and drainage methods, and using modern irrigation machinery to save water. In the dry zone, we are undertaking the following tasks: - digging wells, making water collection and water storage facilities and drawing up plans for planting other crops in place of summer paddy based on availability of water. Furthermore, we have undertaken the following tasks: - performed maintenance of embankments, irrigation structures, and irrigation works; conducted public education campaigns to ensure that in using river water, the irrigated water is used more beneficially and effectively.

The Union Government in collaboration with the private sector have been undertaking the following tasks to be able to overcome the danger of inadequate food stocks in times of natural disasters due to climate change and to strengthen the capacity to respond: - reserve storage of seeds, making advance plans, assisting in rehabilitation efforts in areas that have suffered crop damage.

We have been undertaking rehabilitation works for areas which have suffered crop damage due to natural disasters; we have distributed paddy seeds and also gave cash assistance for damaged crops. From financial year 2016 – 2017 to 2018 – 2019, we have distributed more than Kyats (19.345) billion from the emergency fund.

Dear esteemed peasants, our benefactors,

We have also enacted the Rural Development Law on 27 December 2019. As stipulated in the said law, we all need to cooperate and collaborate for the success of the following tasks:- development of rural areas where the majority of the peasants live, and advancement of their socio-economic situation; narrow the economic development gap between cities and rural areas; use human and financial resources beneficially and effectively; develop the capacity of rural people;  and to create and develop communities which can protect and respond in times of disasters.

As the Union Government has already given permission to the peasants to plant crops that would be most beneficial and suitable for their regions, we have been continuously monitoring closely the needs of peasants, so as to assist and support them, to enable them to plant crops that are economically profitable and marketable. To enable peasants to produce their own seed reserves, we have undertaken the following tasks: training courses for producing seeds; establishing seed production associations; establishment of village seed banks; professionals from related disciplines helping out in areas such as soil, seeds and plant protection; establishment of model villages using integrated advanced techniques.

To enable the planting and production of marketable crops, we have been collaborating with the peasants and private sector to produce good high quality seeds using various methods. Furthermore, we have published and distributed guidelines to practice mutually beneficial partnerships to assist peasants in getting market access.

From the “Farmers channel”, we have been broadcasting modern agricultural techniques, weather news and market prices and news so that the peasants can utilize this information on real-time basis. We are also broadcasting news about the agriculture sector, and educative and entertainment programmes, journals, educative newsletters, and news about the rural economy for the general knowledge of peasants. To enable the peasants to get agricultural techniques easily, a mobile application has been created to make available weather news, agriculture and market news, and agricultural techniques. Thus they can now know and learn in real time.

Dear esteemed peasants, our benefactors,

We are also encouraging and developing the process of converting raw agricultural and live-stock produce into value-added finished products and selling them at the international markets in competition with others, so that the peasants will get more incomes and their socio-economic life would be up-lifted.  
 
Furthermore, our Union Government has fixed the minimum price of at Kyats (5) lakhs for (100) baskets, to ensure the stability of paddy price and mitigate the loss suffered by peasants. We have also undertaken the following tasks: - working for peasants to get back their confiscated farmlands; for farmlands that could not be returned to make sure that compensation is given; allowing farmers on small plots and local ethnic people to work on vacant, fallow and virgin land after review; amending the farmland law; ensuring that peasants are given permission to work on farmlands officially; working to uplift the socio-economic life of peasants by rural development; creating other means of generating incomes apart from agricultural work for peasants and their families.

As the Union Government has been working seriously to uplift the socio-economic life of peasants and their families, I solemnly urge all of you as I send this Message of Greetings, to join hands and cooperate with the Union Government in the long term interests of the Republic of Union of Myanmar to overcome all challenges, obstacles and difficulties.

Ref; The Global New Light of Myanmar