Vice President stresses need to protect farmers rights

 April 27, 2017

Vice President U Henry Van Thio has called for stepping up efforts for protecting the rights of farmers and for promoting their interests as the country moves toward contract farming.

At the meeting of the Steering Committee for Farmers Rights, Protection and Promoting of Interests held in the meeting room of the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation in Nay Pyi Taw yesterday, he also stressed the need to invite investors for implementing contract farming in the country.

“It is necessary to invite private entrepreneurs for the seed production and quality crop production, and internal and external banks need to be linked in order to acquire the necessary investments,” said the Vice President.
Myanmar is an agriculture-based country in which 70 per cent of farmers depend on the agriculture sector, as do residents in cities connected to agriculture and livestock, which is why speedy efforts for the tasks of farmer rights, protection and farmer’s welfare will be carried out, he added.

The Vice President, who is also the leader of the Leading Committee, spoke about five essential aims for protecting the rights and enhancing the economic welfare of farmer’s law, which will support farmers with help for suitable loans, assistance with production, investment and technology to increase production, suitable prices for their agricultural products in the market, to effectively carry out the rights, protection and interests of farmers who own small plots, and to offer support for the grievances and losses caused by natural disasters as much as possible.
He said plenary decisions have been made under the law’s chapter 3, section 5 to implement help for farmers who suffered losses in 2016 natural disasters, Ks4.67 billion for crop substitution, Ks4.19 billion for the maintenance of dams, and Ks2.47 billion for the maintenance of roads and bridges, which will be provided from a separate government fund.

With the objective of farmers being able to cultivate crops on time, the amount of loans was increased from Ks1 lakh to Ks1.5 lakh for one acre of rainny season paddy production in 2016-2017, while loans for other crops will be increased from Ks20,000 to Ks50,000 per acre. It is important that Union level ministers, region and state governments, working committees composed of delegations from non government organisations and private entrepreneurs collaborate together in this effort, he said.

Then, Union Minister Dr. Aung Thu, Secretary of the Steering Committee for Farmers Right, Protection and Interests Promotion explained the ongoing plans, sector-wise activities for high agricultural production and breeding for farmer rights, protection and promotion of interests.

Later, discussions on the interest promotion for breeders, cultivators, farmers through the States and Regions were made by State and Region Chief Ministers and the members of Nay Pyi Taw Council. Union Ministers and those present also discussed the short-term, long term and future vision for the farmers.

The Vice President said the results from this meeting should be implemented practically and another meeting may be called depending on the needs. The plenary meeting was attended by Union Ministers, the Attorney General, Regions and States Chief Ministers, members of Nay Pyi Taw Council, Vice Chairman of the Central Bank, Permanent Secretaries, Directors-General, responsible personnel and invitees.

Ref; The Global New Light of Myanmar