State Administration Council Chairman Prime Minister Senior General Min Aung Hlaing inspects Ayethaya industrial and farming zones, pay homage to Inle PhaungdawOo Pagoda
Nay Pyi Taw October 2
State Administration Council Chairman Prime Minister Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, accompanied by SAC members, union ministers, the chief mini-ster of Shan State, senior military officers of the Office of Commander-in-Chief, the commander of Eastern Command and officials, inspected layer farming and breeding of inse-minated pigs in Shan Yoma farming zone of the Ayethaya Industrial Zone in Taunggyi this morning.
At the Shan Yoma farming zone, Dr Win Zin Maung, head of Shan State branch of the Live-stock Breeding and Veterinary Department (LBVD), presented a report on farming in the zone, production and requirements, U Soe Min Thu, director of Shan State branch of Directorate of Industrial Supervision and Inspection(DISI), on industrial activities of the zone, U Kyaw Kyaw Oo, assistant director of Nyaungshwe Township branch of Irrigation and Water Utiliza-tion Management Department (IWUMD), on sustainability of Inle Lake and future plans.
In response, the Senior Gene-ral said the Ayethaya agriculture and livestock breeding zone was established under his directives during the administration of the Tatmadaw government to support the meat and fish sector of the nation. Later, Ayethaya Industrial Zone was set up to run industries based on local agriculture and farming products. The initial goal was to conduct milk cow breeding to reduce the import of dairy products. But, it is a pleasure to witness the success of layer farming which is more popular among the locals. As the initial goal is to ensure greater success of the industrial zone and the farming zone, it should conduct meat and fish farming and produce agricultural products in addition to milk cow breeding which is included in the initial goal. Sufficient volume of animal feed such as bran, broken rice, corn and sesame and groundnut cake must be produced locally and should stay away from mixing them with chemicals. The industrial zone should turn agriculture and farming products into quality goods that meet the standard. As Heho airport has been upgraded efforts should be made to ex-port chilled meat and fish and agro products. Efforts should be made for the abundant array of soil and water resources to become economically beneficial for the nation.
In establishing a zone, its safety should be taken into account from various aspects and water is the main required for any kind of zone, whether it is an agricultural and livestock breeding zone or an industrial zone. Production based SMES should be set up in the zone.
They must be encouraged. Moreover, environmental conserva-tion is also required. We can restore a good environment for posterity only if we conserve and protect it now. Tatmadaw is conducting helicopter-aided aerial seeding for greening of the various areas of the country including Inle region.
Regarding the Inle Lake, it is a lake well-known not only in the country but in the world, and Inle PhaungdawOo Pagoda is a famous heritage of the Sasana among the Buddhists as well. A characteristic thing is the way to row the boat not only with the hands but a leg, which attracts tourists. It is needed to be aware that the water area of the lake has been less than before. It is necessary that there will not be an increase in the population on the water area and that the population is to gradually move onshore to live. The number of businesses on floating islands must be reduced. There is plenty of plastic not only in the Inle region but in the world’s seas, and the plastic pollution is posing a threat to the aquatic creatures and marine resources to be destroyed. It is needed for locals, administrative bodies and businesses to collectively take tasks to keep the Inle Lake alive. When I got to the lake in the past, two aquatic weed harvesters were donated to help the maintenance works for the lake according to the report by the locals. I am pleased to hear that those machines are being used profitably. It is necessary to do maintenance work for the machines for long-term use. Fuel requirements will be fulfilled if needed. It is to develop fertilizer through using duckweed and water hyacinth and to create job opportunities for the locals.
Ministries concerned and locals are to make collective and cooperative efforts in order the big and small creeks, tributaries of the lake, will not become silted up, he said.
Then, the Senior General and party visited the egg farm of Dr Sai Lone located in the Shan Yoma farming zone and the pig farm of Farm Myanmar Company Limited and had discussion on development of the livestock sector.
Afterwards, the Senior Gene-ral, his wife and party visited Inle PhaungdawOo Pagoda, offered flowers, water, light oil lamps and gold leaf to the pagoda, signed in the record book of the pagoda and donated cash for multiple funds of the pagoda.
The Senior General and party paid respects to Sayadaw Bha-ndata Vijaya of the Pagoda and Sanghas and made donations in cash and kind for them. The Senior General also spoke of the health of the Sayadaw and requirements for long-term durability and existence of the Inle Lake and the pagoda.
Later, the Senior General and party took a tour of the lake by boat and observed the state of achieving development of the lake and conserving its environment.