Boosting of agricultural sector urged in Myanmar

Myanmar top leader Senior-General Than Shwe on Sunday called on the country's peasants to make efforts to boost the agricultural sector, which is the mainstay of the country's economy, and improve the socio-economic life of the people.

Than Shwe, chairman of the State Peace and Development Council, made the call in his message on the occasion of the country's Peasants Day which falls on Sunday.

Than Shwe also urged the farmers to strive for transforming the convention farming into mechanized one to be able to fully make use of the growing number of arable lands. To this end, he said, adding that the state and the private sectors have placed emphasis on boosting production of farm machinery and implements.

Dealing with irrigation status of the country, he noted that the country has built 187 dams, 21 sluice gates, 305 river water pumping stations, 7,578 underground water tapping stations and 658rural dams and lakes, spending huge fund of the state.

He also said the government is taking measures for scaling up sown area such as reclaiming fallow lands, vacant lands and low-lying areas through various means, reclaiming highlands and rendering assistance for multiple and mixed cropping patterns.