• Burmese
Thursday, July 17, 2025
No Result
View All Result
NEWSLETTER
The Irrawaddy
30 °c
Yangon
  • Home
  • News
    • Burma
    • Politics
    • World
    • Asia
    • Myanmar’s Crisis & the World
    • Ethnic Issues
    • War Against the Junta
    • Junta Cronies
    • Conflicts In Numbers
    • Junta Watch
    • Fact Check
    • Investigation
    • Myanmar-China Watch
    • Obituaries
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Opinion
    • Commentary
    • Guest Column
    • Analysis
    • Editorial
    • Stories That Shaped Us
    • Letters
  • Junta Watch
  • Ethnic Issues
  • War Against the Junta
  • In Person
    • Interview
    • Profile
  • Books
  • Donation
  • Home
  • News
    • Burma
    • Politics
    • World
    • Asia
    • Myanmar’s Crisis & the World
    • Ethnic Issues
    • War Against the Junta
    • Junta Cronies
    • Conflicts In Numbers
    • Junta Watch
    • Fact Check
    • Investigation
    • Myanmar-China Watch
    • Obituaries
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Opinion
    • Commentary
    • Guest Column
    • Analysis
    • Editorial
    • Stories That Shaped Us
    • Letters
  • Junta Watch
  • Ethnic Issues
  • War Against the Junta
  • In Person
    • Interview
    • Profile
  • Books
  • Donation
No Result
View All Result
The Irrawaddy
No Result
View All Result
Home Business

Govt, Rice Federation Prepare Contingency for Paddy Flooding

Kyaw Hsu Mon by Kyaw Hsu Mon
August 8, 2016
in Uncategorized
Reading Time: 2 mins read
0 0
A A
Govt

Flooding in Hinthada Township in Irrawaddy Division on Monday. (Photo: Pyay Kyaw / The Irrawaddy)

3.7k
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

RANGOON — The Myanmar Rice Federation, farmers’ associations and the Department of Agriculture is preparing to support farmers with seeds and fertilizers, and to monitor water levels, after flooding nationwide has begun to inundate paddy fields.

Attention has been focused on the Irrawaddy Delta, whose 3 million acres of monsoon paddy accounts for a large portion of Burma’s rice production.

“We’re now monitoring water levels in paddy fields. Paddy is resistant [to current levels] but if water keeps getting higher, paddy will be damaged. We’ve made preparations for this [potential] loss,” said Myanmar Rice Federation spokesperson Ye Min Aung.

RelatedPosts

Bitter Harvest for Rakhine Rice Farmers

Bitter Harvest for Rakhine Rice Farmers

December 20, 2024
1.5k
Junta Boss Grabs China’s Lifeline; Crackdown on Draft Dodgers; and More

Junta Boss Grabs China’s Lifeline; Crackdown on Draft Dodgers; and More

November 9, 2024
2.1k
Myanmar Villagers Battle to Save Rice Crop as Flood Death Toll Jumps to 226

Myanmar Villagers Battle to Save Rice Crop as Flood Death Toll Jumps to 226

September 18, 2024
660

In Burma, monsoon paddy is mostly planted between June and August, and is harvested through the cool season, starting from October. Dry season paddy—cultivated in smaller quantities due to the lack of irrigation in many areas—is planted largely between November and December and is harvested from April.

“Recently, paddy fields in Upper Burma have been flooded but our particular concern is the Irrawaddy Delta. Working with the government, we are preparing to provide paddy seed, fertilizer and other necessary things for farmers,” Ye Min Aung said.

In flooding last year—caused by torrential rain that peaked in late July and early August—more than 1.3 million acres of paddy were swamped, out of 20 million acres being cultivated across Burma.

At that time, the Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation and farmers’ associations disbursed paddy seed so that farmers could re-sow their crop before the end of the planting season.

Soe Tun, chairman of the Myanmar Farmers’ Association, said that the concern was less with rice production—which was not notably affected last year despite the inundations—but the welfare of individual farmers, many of whom were left with crippling debts.

“Farmers lost many things in their lives,” he said. “That’s why we’re preparing to provide paddy seed to support farmers.”

Soe Tun added that increases in rice prices were not a concern, because of adequate rice stores.

Ye Min Aung added that less than 30,000 acres of paddy in Upper Burma had been flooded so far, concentrated in Sagaing and Magwe divisions.

“If we compare this to nation-wide paddy acreage, it’s not that much, but if the Irrawaddy Delta is flooded, it would have serious implications for rice production this year,” he said.

Htin Lin, a resident in Nyaungdon Township of Irrawaddy Division, said the Irrawaddy River had swollen this week near the town; paddy fields in villages by the river have started to flood.

“Farmers can do nothing but wait and see what will happen,” he said.

Ye Min Aung said that the Myanmar Rice Federation and the government need to actively prevent rice traders from playing the market during times of floods.

“So far, rice stores for local consumption are sufficient,” he said.

Last year, despite the floods, 1.3 million tons of rice were exported during the 2015-16 fiscal year, ending in March. The Myanmar Rice Federation says it expects 1.5 million tons to be exported over the current fiscal year.

The consequences of last year’s flooding were believed to have been more indirect. The World Bank put economic growth at 7 per cent for 2015-16, against a projected mid-term growth average of 8.2 percent. Floods were blamed for much of the shortfall.

Your Thoughts …
Tags: A_FactivaAgriculture
Kyaw Hsu Mon

Kyaw Hsu Mon

The Irrawaddy

Similar Picks:

Struggling to Control Rice Prices, Myanmar Junta Orders Sellers to Register Warehouses
Business

Struggling to Control Rice Prices, Myanmar Junta Orders Sellers to Register Warehouses

by The Irrawaddy
July 5, 2024
3.1k

The move is aimed at stabilizing prices, the Commerce Ministry said, warning legal action against those who fail to comply.

Read moreDetails
Junta Boss Grabs China’s Lifeline; Crackdown on Draft Dodgers; and More
Junta Watch

Junta Boss Grabs China’s Lifeline; Crackdown on Draft Dodgers; and More

by The Irrawaddy
November 9, 2024
2.1k

Also this week, Min Aung Hlaing touted Myanmar as solution to global food insecurity amid UN warning of famine.

Read moreDetails
Price Controls Trigger Turmoil in Myanmar’s Rice Market
Business

Price Controls Trigger Turmoil in Myanmar’s Rice Market

by The Irrawaddy
August 29, 2023
2.1k

Junta’s latest effort to control soaring food inflation suffers pushback from wholesalers.

Read moreDetails
Farmers in Myanmar’s Mon State Warn of Severe Decline in Monsoon Harvest
Burma

Farmers in Myanmar’s Mon State Warn of Severe Decline in Monsoon Harvest

by Mi Ei Thinzar Myint
June 24, 2024
1.8k

High costs, a shortage of workers and the lack of loans are forcing farmers to reduce the amount of land...

Read moreDetails
Inspiring Women of Burma  
Burma

Inspiring Women of Burma  

by The Irrawaddy
March 18, 2016
33.6k

The contributions of some of Burma’s leading female figures are highlighted in the final part of a series that ran...

Read moreDetails
Myanmar’s Rakhine Spiraling Into Hunger as 50% Drop in Rice Harvest Predicted
Business

Myanmar’s Rakhine Spiraling Into Hunger as 50% Drop in Rice Harvest Predicted

by The Irrawaddy
June 17, 2024
1.6k

Conflict and blockades by junta troops have left almost half of farmland in the western state uncultivated this monsoon season,...

Read moreDetails
Load More
Next Post
Union Peace Conference Set to Begin on August 31

Union Peace Conference Set to Begin on August 31

Veteran Activists Call for August 8 to be Burma’s ‘Democracy Day’

Veteran Activists Call for August 8 to be Burma’s ‘Democracy Day’

No Result
View All Result

Recommended

Behind the Scenes: China’s Hand in Myanmar’s Election

Behind the Scenes: China’s Hand in Myanmar’s Election

22 hours ago
1.1k
‘Not a Witch Hunt’: Upholding Survivor-Centered Justice in Myanmar

‘Not a Witch Hunt’: Upholding Survivor-Centered Justice in Myanmar

6 days ago
773

Most Read

  • Indian Army Accused of Deadly Strike on Separatists in Myanmar

    Indian Army Accused of Deadly Strike on Separatists in Myanmar

    shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Rakhine Fighters Close In on Myanmar Junta’s Naval Base

    shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Behind the Scenes: China’s Hand in Myanmar’s Election

    shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Myanmar Junta Recaptures Nawnghkio After Months-Long Counteroffensive

    shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Rogue Sagaing Resistance Fighters Held Over Robbery Gone Wrong

    shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0

Newsletter

Get The Irrawaddy’s latest news, analyses and opinion pieces on Myanmar in your inbox.

Subscribe here for daily updates.

Contents

  • News
  • Politics
  • War Against the Junta
  • Myanmar’s Crisis & the World
  • Conflicts In Numbers
  • Junta Crony
  • Ethnic Issues
  • Asia
  • World
  • Business
  • Economy
  • Election 2020
  • Elections in History
  • Cartoons
  • Features
  • Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Commentary
  • Guest Column
  • Analysis
  • Letters
  • In Person
  • Interview
  • Profile
  • Dateline
  • Specials
  • Myanmar Diary
  • Women & Gender
  • Places in History
  • On This Day
  • From the Archive
  • Myanmar & COVID-19
  • Intelligence
  • Myanmar-China Watch
  • Lifestyle
  • Travel
  • Food
  • Fashion & Design
  • Videos
  • Photos
  • Photo Essay
  • Donation

About The Irrawaddy

Founded in 1993 by a group of Myanmar journalists living in exile in Thailand, The Irrawaddy is a leading source of reliable news, information, and analysis on Burma/Myanmar and the Southeast Asian region. From its inception, The Irrawaddy has been an independent news media group, unaffiliated with any political party, organization or government. We believe that media must be free and independent and we strive to preserve press freedom.

  • Copyright
  • Code of Ethics
  • Privacy Policy
  • Team
  • About Us
  • Careers
  • Contact
  • Burmese

© 2023 Irrawaddy Publishing Group. All Rights Reserved

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
    • Burma
    • Politics
    • World
    • Asia
    • Myanmar’s Crisis & the World
    • Ethnic Issues
    • War Against the Junta
    • Junta Cronies
    • Conflicts In Numbers
    • Junta Watch
    • Fact Check
    • Investigation
    • Myanmar-China Watch
    • Obituaries
  • Politics
  • Opinion
    • Commentary
    • Guest Column
    • Analysis
    • Editorial
    • Stories That Shaped Us
    • Letters
  • Ethnic Issues
  • War Against the Junta
  • In Person
    • Interview
    • Profile
  • Business
    • Economy
    • Business Roundup
  • Books
  • Donation

© 2023 Irrawaddy Publishing Group. All Rights Reserved

This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our Privacy and Cookie Policy.