Thursday, March 12, 2009

Moneyin Dam helps local farmers grow summer paddy Article: Htein


Long ago, Moneyin in Namtu Township,Shan State (North), was a secluded region with poor
transport and armed insurgency reigned supremethere.After 1988, the Tatmadaw government
managed to make peace with armed groups andexpedited projects for all-round development of theregions across the nation. As part of the plan, itconstructed roads and bridges to form a network of transport facilities covering the whole country along with dams wherever necessary and possible. So far, it has constructed 219 dams, including Zeechaung Dam in Kyauktaw Township, Rakhine State, that was inaugurated recently. Moneyin in Namtu Township, Shan
State (North), has been enjoying the taste of peace. Moneyin Dam constructed at a cost of about K 1690 million was put into service on 31 May 2008. With a maximum water storage capacity of 25,900 acre feet, the 1700 feet long and 100 feet high earthen type facility is on the Namhswan Creek. The dam also can generate 2.2 million kilowatt hours a year. Now, No (4) secondary canal of the dam has been dug, thus increasing the irrigated area of farmlands to 4000 acres. Moneyin is constituted with 27 villages of three villagetracts: Moneyin (Mongyin), Weinnan and Mansarlon. In the past, the region was in no position to grow summer paddy. It put 50 acres under summer paddy in 2006; 150 acres in 2007; and 800 acres in 2008. The construction of Moneyin Dam led to reclamation of 2000 acres of lands designed to scale up cultivation of summer paddy. Thanks to the facility, the paddy fields that relied on rainwater previously have become irrigated ones, and some vacant lands were reclaimed to grow paddy When asked about reclamation of fallow lands, Director U Nyo Win of the Highland Reclamation Project (1)
under the Agricultural Mechanization Department told the Myanma Alin Daily, “Our project
is based in Lashio in northern Shan State. Now, we are reclaiming vacant lands around Moneyin
Dam.” Deputy Director (Civil) U Phone Tin of the Irrigation Department said that the dam was irrigating farmlands in Weiknan, Mongyin, Ahtet-manti, Auk-manti, Kaungkye and Khoma villages in Namtu Townships; and due to the dam, some farmlands were not flooded any longer, and local people could grow summer paddy and the region's rice supply had met the demand.
Manager U Win Hlaing Oo of Shan State (North) Myanma Perennial Crops Enterprise said, “Moneyin is about 20 miles from Namtu. We had to pass through Namtu if we
wanted to go to Lashio. The road was not in good condition in the rainy season. Mostly, local
people do highland farming, grow beans and pulses and corn, cut down trees in the forests for
firewood and charcoal. Due to Moneyin Dam, there has been a 20 miles long motor road between
Lashio and Moneyin, and local people have broadened their horizons a lot. Now, they grow
vegetables in addition to monsoon and summer paddy. We will grow rubber in the deforested
areas and on barren hills to maintain the dam. In that regard, we have a plan to grow rubber on 20,000 acres of vacant lands around Moneyin to conserve the watershed areas, to make the region green again with trees, to generate job opportunities, and to produce industrial materials. Now, we have got green light for 1200 acres, and up to now we have grown rubber on 600 acres of land. Local people are happy with the dam because they can not only enjoy safe water and
irrigation water but also grow crops all year round.” Farmer U Aung Pa of Weiknan Village in Moneyin said, “Previously, rainwater was the only source to grow paddy. Now, we are very pleased that we can grow summer paddy in addition to monsoon with the water from the
dam.” Farmer Daw Shwe Sar of Weiknan Village said, “We had never grown summer paddy previously. But, now we can grow summer paddy due to the dam.” It is indeed very challenging to reclaim farmlands following the construction of a dam, especially in mountainous regions like Shan State (North). Now, Moneyin Dam has emerged in Namtu Township, Shan State (North), and local farmers have enjoyed higher living standards due to enthusiasm of local farmers, the
supervision of Commander Maj-Gen Aung Than Htut of North-East Command, hard work of service personnel, and the government's benevolent attitude toward the people.

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