Quality Seeds: Paddy Seed Production Program Conducted In Moe Kaung

As decreasing of paddy transplanters due to some travel restrictions during Covid-19 outbreak, paddy cultivation will be conducted with local rice transplanters by producing good quality paddy seed commercially, according to the farmer from Man Ywat Village.

Though the grain was cultivated in the past, it has been 3 years that paddy cultivation has been conducted with the technical support of Agricultural Department for peasants to get good quality seed.

Farmer, Man Ywat Village, San Nyunt Naing said “Due to the Covid-19 outbreak, there have some weaknesses in paddy transplanting. So, most of the peasants are cultivating paddy by direct seeding method. Hand transplanting has difficulties for the numbers of farming labourers in this period. But, the good quality paddy seed is needed for the systematic cultivation and paddy transplanters.” 

When applying direct seeding method, 100 baskets of paddy is yielded per acre and if cultivate systematically, about 120 baskets of paddy will be produced per acre.

Farmer, Man Ywat Village, San Nyunt Naing said “Out of 8 acres, 2 acres are being cultivated by seeder system and other 6 acres are being cultivated by the seedling production method.”

The Moe Kaung Township Administrator also shared about paddy seed production business.

Township Administrator, Department of Agriculture (Moe Kaung), Sein Lwin said “In 2019-2020 Covid period, our department is going to conduct rice seed production by planning 230 acreages in 12 village-tracts with 39 peasants. We conduct giving technical support to each peasant with viber group, field trip and pamphlets.”

By cultivating good quality seed in the region,  the paddy yield will be increased along with improving the living standard of the farmers and the good quality rice will be obtained for the consumers.