The Mon State government hopes that a windfall of compensation will give a much-needed boost to farmers whose plots were damaged by recent monsoon flooding.
According to Mon State’s Minister of Agriculture, Livestock and Transportation, farmers will K50,000 per acre for flood-damaged farmlands.
Over 17,000 acres of farmland was flooded in Mon State in July, including 4,193 acres that were completely damaged, according to the state ministry’s tally.
“We are trying to provide around K190 million. We will provide K50,000 per acre, as well as crop seeds and fertilizers. We are trying to provide this before the end of this month because [the farmers] need to replant the paddies,” said U Tun Htay, Mon State Minister of Agriculture, Livestock and Transportation.
The state government will provide around K75 million, with the remainder of the funding sought from the Union Ministry of Agriculture.
“It would be best to receive [the aid] before the end of this month because it’s already late to replant the paddies. Some people have already borrowed money to replant the paddies,” said a farmer from Kyaikto township.
The over 4,000 acres of damaged farmland that can expect compensation are spread over Paung, Bilin, and Kyaikto townships under Thaton District, as well as another 62 acres in Kyaikmaraw township.
“More [farmlands] have been damaged this year compared to last year. The rainfall record is high this year,” said U Kyi Soe, chief officer of Mon State’s Department of Agriculture.
Mon State recorded 78 days of rain and up to 107.68 inches from January to July this year.
The Department of Agriculture chalked up the increased damage across farmland this year to the 30 additional inches of rain received compared to last year.
According to statistics from the department, there are over 690,000 acres of farmlands in Mon State.
