Village youths need to work on self-management for inclusive, sustainable rural development

In carrying out rural development, which is fundamental to the country’s economic transformation, active cooperation of the local residents and their good practice of maintaining the development facilities for sustainable and efficient use is one of the strengths of the village committees and villagers, said Union Minister U Tin Htut Oo during the Solar Mini-Grid opening ceremony in Thae Aww village in Myeik District on May 2.
Union Minister for Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation U Tin Htut Oo also added the rural youths who have a basic knowledge of technology should be trained in advance during the project, which would be very helpful for the village development.
In order to provide electricity to rural areas, rural lighting works will be carried out in areas that have not yet been electrified, areas more than 10 miles from the power grid, villages interested in cooperating and in densely populated villages with more than 50 households in the next ten years in accordance with the NEP Off-Grid policy.
With the support from the World Bank and the German Development Agency (GIZ), the National Electrification plan (NEP) is implemented by the 60% contribution of the Rural Development Department, 20% public contribution and the 20% investment company’s contribution.
The availability of electricity will provide electricity to the rural population and seafood farming, which needs electricity, small-scale production and business, and expansion of value-added products in Thae Aww village.
Afterwards, the Union Minister and party arrived at OK advanced rice mill and inspected the rice production and packaging, the use of by-products of paddy husk to generate electricity and reuse in rice mills and factories. The Union Minister also met with local farmers who were cooperating with the rice mill and discussed the concept of a contract farming system with mutual understanding and trust between private entrepreneurs and farmers and the possibility of obtaining assistance from the relevant departments for good seed conversion and technical requirements.
The Union Minister and party also encouraged the water supply system being carried out by the Department of Rural Development in Pyin Gyi village and inspected the demonstration of rubber tapping field with raincoat and oil palm research at Shwe Du Farm.— MNA