It is necessary for farmers to produce high quality, low-cost products: MoALI Union Minister says

Union Minister for Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation U Tin Htut Oo met with state/district-level officials from the agriculture sector on 8 January in Kengtung Township, Shan State.
At the meeting, he said efforts should be made to develop agro-economic zones with the distinctive features of the region and to development the private sector, just as care needs to be taken to make agriculture and livestock systematic.
The Union Minister said the situation of local water and land should be utilized to make high quality products for farmers with low production costs, adding that it is necessary to make arrangements for farmers’ access to land ownerships and land use rights in accordance with the existing laws, to increase production, to reduce input and labour costs, to use mechanized farming system and to choose good and pure seeds and modern technology.
One of the main requirements in the livestock industry is inter-departmental cooperation for animal feed production, he highlighted. He also discussed the need for training required for the development of skilled human resources and the effective use of information and communication technology.
In the afternoon, the Union Minister inspected the coffee and tea business of Jadae Akha Company in Kengtung and its ability to export to European market and discussed the requirements.
He also visited the orange farm of U Kyar Hay, a farmer in Nayawng Village-tract, operating 60,000 orange plants on 300 acres of land in accordance with the GAP practice and modern drip irrigation system. Napier grass is grown among the orange trees for animal feed and more than 300 local cattle are raised and cow dung is used as a natural fertilizer. It also produces high quality oranges and exports to the domestic market and neighbouring countries.
In the evening, the Union Minister met with Shan State Chief Minister Dr Kyaw Tun and Shan State Ministers in Tachilek and discussed the development of agriculture and livestock sector of Shan State, prevention of animal diseases, development of livestock industry for domestic meat consumption and export promotion, provision of knowledge and technology to develop animal feed systems.—MNA