Vice President U Henry Van Thio, in his capacity as the chairman of the Leading Committee for Farmer Rights Protection and Enhancement of their Benefits, asked committee members to help local farmers, who are witnessing a decline in markets for crops and fisheries products.

The meeting was held at the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Agriculture in Nay Pyi Taw yesterday afternoon.

The Vice President also said local paddy farmers are suffering a downturn in foreign demand, and that the recommendation committee for rice market has fixed the floor price of paddy for 2019-2020 financial year.

Under the article 23 of the Law of Protection of the Farmer Rights and Enhancement of their Benefits, the leading body has announced the price at K0.5 million per 100 baskets on 15 October 2019 with the approval of the Union government to be able to subsidize the farmers if the market paddy price declined under this rate by using the K15 billion operating budget of the State. The Vice President also urged the Chairman of Nay Pyi Taw Council and the chief ministers of State/Regions need to facilitate the working groups in purchasing paddy/rice.

The government has permitted export 0.2 million tonnes of Lone Thwel paddy from October to December 2019 to address the excess stockpile of paddy in the local market, and the volume of export would be increased to 0.5 million tonnes by 31January 2020.

He also advised the sugar-cane farmers who are suffering from the impact of freezing sugar market by preventing re-export sugar, illegal import and controlling import sugar for the actual need. A decline of price and excess stockpile of sugar in the local market have pulled down the price of sugar-canes by K2,000 to K5,000 per tonne.

The Vice President added Myanmar has seen a positive trend in export of livestock products, with over 40 countries of destination, and the EU could help export of fishery products from 24 processing factories.

Myanmar started implementing the National Residue Monitoring Plan (NRMP) in 2014-2015, and the 17 factories under this programme are exporting farm fishery products.

The Emerald Village (Fishery Sector) programme is providing K30 million to each village for creating job opportunities, promoting family incomes of rural people and alleviation of poverty.

The Vice President continued the updated version of Farmland Law 2012 which will be published which will come into effect with the approval of Pyidaungsu Hluttaw in near future.

In accordance with the objectives of the Law of Protection of the Farmer Rights and Enhancement of their Benefits, mentioning ‘to provide aids as much as possible for loss and damage caused by any natural disaster’, the government has already given over K7.32 billion for the damaged crop acres 379,964.14 from the emergency budget, and K3.02 billion for the 302,315 acres is being released to the farmers.

In his conclusion, the Vice President suggested cooperation of work committees and groups, together with the private sector, to promote the benefits of farmers.

Union Minister Dr Aung Thu, the secretary of Leading Committee, presented the committee’s works in 2019 future plans for 2020.

The members of the Leading Committee also discussed purchasing of paddy at the floor price in respective states and regions, preparations for natural disasters, markets and rehabilitation programmes.

Union Minister Dr Aung Thu coordinated on the discussions for making future plans.

Finally, Vice President U Henry Van Thio made a conclusion remark on the meeting.

The meeting was also attended by Union Minister for Information Dr Pe Myint, Union Minister for Electricity and Energy U Win Khaing, Union Minister for Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement Dr Win Myat Aye, Union Attorney-General U Tun Tun Oo, Chairman of Nay Pyi Taw Council Dr Myo Aung, Governor of Central Bank of Myanmar U Kyaw Kyaw Maung, chief ministers of States/Regions, Deputy Ministers, Chairman of Pyithu Hluttaw Agriculture, Livestock and Rural Social Development Committee, members of State/Region government, departmental heads, Vice Chairman of Myanmar Rice Federation, Chairman of Myanmar Rice and Paddy Traders Association, the invited guests and officials. —MNA (Translated by Aung Khin)