President U Htin Kyaw visits modern crop plantations in Heho

 June 1, 2017

President U Htin Kyaw observed modern crop plantations grown using up-to-date agricultural methods at the Prime Farm in Heho, southern Shan State yesterday.

The President, accompanied by Dr Lin Htut, Shan State Cabinet’s Chief Minister, Shan State Cabinet Ministers and responsible officials, arrived at the Prime Farm in Heho at 4 pm, with U Hla Myint Aung, deputy Director-General of the Department of Agriculture, Director of Prime Farm Mr. Daniel Bennett and Manager U Chan Myae Aung explaining the aim of founding the Prime Farm, production of crops by using modern methods, plantation crops, exports, the market situation and future plans.

Afterwards, the President inspected berry plantations grown with the use of a water-dripping system, a technique of Netafim, and plantations of seven kinds of strawberries in Pump House Green House. Netafim is an Israel-based company specializing in drip and micro-irrigation products for agriculture, greenhouse, landscape and mining applications.

The Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation and Prime Company launched the Prime Farm in Heho in 2015 after considering four factors— market, climate, crop and expenses — in a joint venture on 23 acres of experimental plantations, 13 acres of a Pump House Green House system, and 70 acres of blank space, a total of 106 acres. Berries, watermelons, onions, potatoes, cauliflower, carrots, groundnut, rice and other crops — 20 in total — are being produced. Presently, seven kinds of European strawberries have been planted in two greenhouses measuring 2,400 meters square and one green house 1,500 meters square.

Ref; The Global New Light of Myanmar