28 April
Vice President U Henry Van Thio who was in Chin State to inspect regional development works went to Kan Pa Le elephant foot yam and hill fruit drying and value adding work at No. 2 Ward, Kanpetlet Town on 26 April in the afternoon. The Vice President was accompanied by Chin State Chief Minister Salai Lian Luai, State Hluttaw Speaker U Zo Bawi, Deputy Minister Maj-Gen Than Htut and U Hla Maw Oo, state ministers and officials.
There, the Vice President was briefed about the status of planting elephant foot yam or white spot giant arum (Amorphophallus paeoniifolius), Avocado and coffee and development of MSMEs (micro, small and medium enterprises) by Myanmar Fruit, Flower and Vegetable Producers and Exporters Association general secretary Daw Sanda Myo.
In response to the briefing the Vice President gave comments regarding producing and marketing elephant foot yam, avocado and coffee as value added products, the need to control the market in the best possible way, to form associations and groups to produce Chin products that meet the market requirement and arranging loans for MSMEs.
In Chin State elephant foot yam was produced in Matupi, Mindat and Paletwa townships. An acre of land can yield more than 3,000 Viss (Viss = 1.53293 kg = 3.6 lb) of elephant foot yam and if properly planted, the yield per acre can be from 5,000 Viss to 8,000 Viss earning the farmer more than Ks 8.3 million.
An acre of avocado yield about 3 tons per year and at US$ 1,300 per ton, an income of Ks 5.8 million can be achieved. If both avocado and elephant foot yam were planted the income for the farmer can be more than Ks 14 million it is learnt.
Yesterday morning the Vice President and party went to Mindat District, Kanpetlet Township, Khaw Nu M’ Cong (Natma Taung) National Park and inspected the national park conservation and protection works. The Vice President gave advice regarding retaining cleanliness and conservation of eco-system, and departments and local people to protect and preserve scarce species as cultural heritage.
Khaw Nu M’ Cong National Park was established in 1936, proposed as national park in 1997, became a national park in 2010 and finally became an ASEAN heritage park in 2012. It covers an area of 176,202 acres (71,305 hectares) and was at an elevation of 10,200 ft (3053 meter).
Next the Vice President and party went to Hornbill coffee factory in west ward, Mindat town where factory owner U Ma Hon explained about the factory, production of coffee and future expansion plan.
The Vice President commented that support and assistance would be provided to successfully produce world class coffee in Chin State. Efforts must be made toward penetrating international market with high quality coffee and quality packing system and provided advice to ensure coordination regarding the requirements with departmental officials. The factory was learnt to be producing best quality Arabica coffee with modern equipment by systematically selecting best quality natural Arabica coffee beans from Chin State.
The Vice President and party went on to Mindat Town, District People’s Hospital to inspect the health care services provided, encouraged and provided cash support for the local people obtaining treatment.
From there the Vice President went to the Ministry of Construction, Construction 3, Special Building Group 9 briefing hall where Chief Engineer U Khin Maung Swe explained about construction of the hospital expansion ward and staff house undertaken by the Special Building Group 9.
The Vice President gave advice and comments to ensure coordination regarding the explanation made and inspected the construction site.
Afterwards the Vice President and party went to inspect the construction of Mindat University where District Administrator U Maung Htoo explained about works completed, future works and work requirements. The Vice President remarked on retaining existing trees in the construction site as much as possible, to speed up the construction work and to arrange for supplying clean and potable water.
The Vice President and party then went to Baw Khwee plantation and inspected the planting of avocado and medicinal orchids. Agriculture Department Deputy Director General U Aye Ko Ko explained about works to be implemented in the plantation from 2018-2019 to 2020-2021 and the Vice President and State Chief Minister gave advice to ensure coordination.
Later, the Vice President inspected the construction of Mone Chaung Bridge and Lemyo Chaung Bridge on Mindat-Matupi road. The bridges were being constructed by the Special Bridge Group 1.
Mon Chaung Bridge was 60 ft. long and the construction will be completed on 30 September 2019. Lemyo Chaung Bridge was 240 ft. long and the construction will be completed on 30 April 2020.
After inspecting the bridges the Vice President went to the Matupi People’s Hospital where Dr. Talun Kyon Htan explained about patients undertaking treatment, status of providing medicines for free, construction work status in fiscal year 2018-2019, status of constructing a two-story six rooms staff house, employment of medical personnel and other personnel in the hospital, construction of Public Health Officer Office and concrete lining the circuit road around the hospital and the road to the staff house.
The Ministry of Health and Sports Director General Dr. Soe Oo then explained about fulfilling and supporting the hospital’s requirements. Later the Vice President inspected the health care services provided, gave encouragement to patients and provided them with cash support.—MNA (Translated by Zaw Min)
