Plans are underway to supply sufficient water to more than 70,000 acres of non-paddy crops with the irrigation water from the Thaphanseik Dam in Sagaing Region, according to U Win Hlaing Oo, Region Director of Agriculture Department.
“We couldn’t supply water last year, but we are irrigating about 70,000 acres of non-paddy crops this year. We will especially plant black sesame and green pea with about 500 acres of legumes,” he said.
In Sagaing Region, the regular water supply for summer crops is expected to be more than 300,000 acres. However, the Department of Agriculture has informed that the water supply is limited due to insufficient water in the Thaphanseik Dam and have notified to select crops that use less water in areas where there is no water supply.
Although more than 300,000 acres of paddy were grown when the irrigation water was available in Sagaing Region, no paddy is grown anymore. The irrigation water is reportedly supplied this year because the dam couldn’t provide water last year. —Lu Lay
