FARMERS are real benefactors for society as they cultivate crops to provide food supplies to society, although they suffer from the impacts of bad weather in growing crops in all seasons. As such, Myanmar marks Peasants’ Day for the people not to forget the gratitude of those farmers forever.
This year’s Peasants’ Day marked 63 years in Myanmar. Hence, everybody should take pride in the endeavours and performances of farmers engaged in agriculture and livestock breeding, as they play a pivotal role in ensuring food security for the ethnic people. People need to contribute to peasants to have economic growth along with the nation’s surging agricultural and livestock industries.
To ensure national prosperity and food security, efforts are being made to develop the agriculture and livestock sectors using modern techniques, promote MSME industries to enhance exports and increase the yield of oil crops to achieve self-sufficiency and enable exports. These three key economic objectives have been set, and both short-term and long-term plans are being formulated and implemented accordingly.
To prevent the degradation and loss of essential soil for crop cultivation, it is necessary to adopt various farming methods. These include using a combination of chemical and natural fertilizers, planting cover crops, growing windbreak trees, practising crop rotation, implementing terrace farming in hilly regions, utilizing contour farming techniques, and adopting agroforestry systems that integrate crops with trees. Additionally, to enhance soil fertility, the use of natural fertilizers such as manure (cow and chicken dung), EM Bokashi compost, fish amino acids, and green fertilizers like water hyacinths should be encouraged. Other soil improvement techniques, such as planting green manure crops and incorporating them into the soil, are also being promoted.
Not only is this being carried out, but to ensure that farmers have access to high-quality and fairly priced agricultural inputs, fertilizers, seeds, and pesticides are regulated through laws and regulations. Moreover, the government, private businesses, and organizations are collaborating to implement these efforts. Furthermore, support is being provided through the National Economic Development Fund in coordination with input supply companies.
Currently, the government is encouraging agricultural and livestock tasks for farmers to meet the demand of domestic consumption. In this regard, the role of peasants is essential for agricultural and livestock production. As such, it is necessary to help farmers achieve target goals for crops grown in currently cultivated farmland, and working towards doubling or tripling yields will not only increase farmers’ income but also contribute to national economic growth.
