At the 21st-day meeting of Second Pyithu Hluttaw’s 13th regular session held at the Pyithu Hluttaw meeting hall in Nay Pyi Taw yesterday morning, Hluttaw approves the Word Change Bill. Asterisk marked questions were raised and answered earlier and a motion was later discussed and put on record.
Asterisk marked questions
In the asterisk marked question and answer session U Kyaw Htay of Leshi constituency first asked why capital expenditure allocated from Union fund for Naga Self-Administered Zone was low and whether there was any plan to raise it starting from Fiscal Year 2019-2020. Deputy Minister for Construction U Kyaw Lin explained that in Fiscal Year 2017-2018 and Fiscal Year 2018-2019 Naga Self-Administered Zone was allocated with K 112.71 million and K 121.265 million respectively from the Union capital expenditure fund.
In Fiscal Year 2019-2020 K 485.814 million from Union capital fund was allocated for upgrading a road 1 mile 3 furlong road and to install 2 box culverts in Naga Self-Administered Zone Nanyun Township. In the same fiscal year K 702.5 million from Sagaing Region government fund was allocated to upgrade roads 26 miles 1 furlong long, install 5 box culverts and to construct a concrete bridge in Nanyun Township.
In Fiscal Year 2019-2020 K 240 million from Union capital fund was allocated for upgrading a road 1 mile 3 furlong long and to install 10 box culverts in Leshi Township. In the same fiscal year K 703 million from Sagaing Region government fund was allocated to upgrade roads 6 miles long, install 24 box culverts and to construct two bailey bridges in Leshi Township.
A total of K 975.814 million from Union capital fund and K 2,108 million from Sagaing Region government fund were being allocated in Fiscal Year 2019-2020 to construct rural road and bridge in Naga Self-Administered Zone said the Deputy Minister.
In replying to a question raised by U Saw Victor Clyde of Thandaunggyi constituency on a plan to employ sufficient number of personnel in Thandaunggyi Township Rural Development Department Deputy Minister for Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation U Hla Kyaw said a township level personnel was responsible for about 9 villages and there were difficulties to handle all the villages in remote areas where road transport was difficult. Attrition rate of personnel was at about 150 per year and arrangements were made to employ 600 new personnel in Fiscal Year 2019-2020. Once permission was granted to employ these new personnel, priority will be given toward employing locals and will then deploy sufficient number of personnel in Thaundaunggyi Township and other townships where required said the Deputy Minister.
Similarly questions raised by U Min Kyi of Thandwe constituency on managing construction companies that won construction tenders in Thandwe Township to conduct construction works according to standards and norms and U Win Win of Minbu constituency on using parts from dismantled old bridges in Minbu (Saku) Township to construct small bridges in the township where required was answered by Deputy Minister for Construction U Kyaw Lin. In the same way questions raised by Daw Nan Kham Aye of Namtu constituency on T&C Group Co, Ltd land matter; U Ba Shein of Kyaukpyu constituency on an animal feed plant constructed in Kyaukpyu Township Pinlena Village and U Thaung Aye of Pyawbwe constituency on progress of a promised additional reply to a question raised in Hluttaw on 22 May 2017 were answered by Deputy Minister for Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation U Hla Kyaw.
Hluttaw approve Word Change Bill
Following the asterisk marked question session, an announcement was made of approving the Word Change Bill approved and sent without amendment by Amyotha Hluttaw after obtaining the decision of the Hluttaw. There was no objection to it.
Motion on establishing a Farmer Market System put on record
Afterwards a motion tabled by U Sein Win of Maubin constituency urging the Union Government to establish township wise Farmer Market System for agriculture and livestock breeding products to have fair price and a sustainable market was discussed by Tatmadaw representative Major Zaw Win Naing, Tatmadaw representative Major Naing Lin Aung, U Saw Tun Mya Aung of Papun constituency and U Myat Lay Oo of Htilin constituency.
In discussing the motion Deputy Minister for Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation U Hla Kyaw said there’s a requirement to set a base price that was equally beneficial to both the producer and consumers of agriculture and livestock products and to assure safety and quality throughout the entire supply chain.
Arrangements were made to obtain quality seeds and breeds, technology and to be competitive in the market. G to G (government to government) discussions and negotiations were held, agreements signed to raise the prices of export products.
Ministry of Commerce also established 65 buying houses in Yangon, Ayeyawady, Bago, Mandalay, Sagaing and Magway regions, Shan, Mon, Kachin, Kayah and Rakhine states that were much similar to Farmer Market System and were supporting the farmers by helping them obtain a fair price and market for their products.
The main requirement to establish a Farmer Market System was the establishment of strong farmers groups. Only such groups and entities could control and manage the market. At the moment, efforts were being made toward establishment of such groups and entities.
Infrastructures such as storage and distribution facilities were also required and a certain time frame was required for such infrastructures to become established.
Although the motion tabled was a good motion, much steps and time was needed to establish a Farmer Market System said the Deputy Minister and explained that the motion should be put on record.
As U Sein Win agreed for the motion to be put on record and there was no objection from Hluttaw, Pyithu Hluttaw Speaker announced the motion being put on record by the Hluttaw.
22nd-day meeting of Second Pyithu Hluttaw 13th regular session will be held on 18 September. – Aye Aye Thant, Kyaw Zin Htike (MNA)
