The fourth day of the Seed Fair Week 2022 organized by the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation was held yesterday at the Institute of Agriculture in Pyinmana Township.
The fair featured 35 exhibitions displayed by the Myanmar Seed Association and seed companies, including grains, legumes, oilseeds and vegetables and fruit seeds, and seedlings, produced from the research farms, pure breeding grounds, and private galleries and plantations.
The fair was attended by agricultural farmers, those who are interested in agriculture, representatives from seed companies from regions and states, including Nay Pyi Taw, young entrepreneurs, and high school students from Pyinmana.
The fair was conducted with the purpose of enriching people in a continuous chain by using good and pure seeds, according to Director-General Dr Ye Tint Tun of the Department of Agriculture.
“There will be no sustainable success unless good seeds are used to grow any crop, and it is also necessary to cultivate crops that are in demand in the market,” he said.
“With the use of good and pure seeds, the yield will be increased, the market will be stable and prices will improve; if farmers’ incomes increase, our goal of socio-economic development is certain,” he continued.
Farmer U Par who came to the workshop said, “I grow eggplant, sesame and sunflower. I came here to get good and pure seeds and I also bought eggplant seeds and sunflower seeds. One of the reasons I came here is also to see crops that I have never seen before. Therefore, I would like to invite farmers like me to come and see good and pure seeds and other seeds that are suitable for their regions.”
The fair also conducted panel discussions, farmer seminars and technology-based agricultural education.
U Kyaw Zin Win, a young entrepreneur who participated in the discussion “Let’s use ICT for agriculture education” said, “I discussed where and how farmers can get our agricultural technologies, and what devices and technologies are available.”
During the COVID-19 period while farmers’ education and agricultural education staff could not access the fields, farmers can use the mobile application and websites of the Ministry, as well as they can contact call centres to ask questions, he was quoted as saying.
“Farmers will be able to quickly and easily find out the technologies they want to know,” he said.
The fair will be held until 22 February under the theme “Let’s use pure and good seeds for the socio-economic development”. — Naing Naing Win/GNLM
