A plan to provide interest-free paddy seedlings and fertilizer has been arranged for paddy fields that are required to re-grow due to being flooded, said Myanmar Rice Federation President U Ye Min Aung.
There was heavy rain due to climate change, leaving nearly 1 million acres of rain-fed paddy plantation flooded. Seedlings are required to re-grow after they get damaged by floods; therefore, necessary assistance has been planned by both the government and MRF, he said.
“Paddy is a crop with resilience of flood to some extent. It doesn’t need to do much in some areas where water drops. However, seedling fields need to be re-grown if they get damaged by floods. To fix it, the government provides the aid that is needed, and at the same time, rice millers, companies, and our MRF have also planned to give necessary assistance. We have prepared to provide interest-free financial assistance for seeds and fertilizers if there are submissions, along with proper statistics. We will give free, just like we donate to some areas that have been in a very tough situation. We will provide help by properly scrutinizing,” he said.
Scrutiny has been underway on submissions for a list of paddy fields that need to be re-grown, he said. Not all flooded paddy fields are likely to get damaged, and he added that he can save them by giving nutrients and fertilizers if they are not infected. — MT/ZS
