( 1 ) Zaikkaye sluice gate inaugurated to transform 20,000 acres of land in Thaton Township from wetlands to valuable farmlands
 Local people, social organizations and authorities and departmental personnel urged to harmoniously take part in five rural development tasks
Strengthened spirit of self-reliance leads to weakening tendency to depend on others and engage in illegal business and vitalizing spirit to defend nation

Yangon, 25 June - Secretary-1 of the State Peace and Development Council Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt and party left here by Tatmadaw aircraft this morning and arrived at Zaikkaye Sluice Gate in Thaton Township, Mon State, at 8.20 am.

The Secretary-1 and party were welcomed there by member of the State Peace and Development Council Maj-Gen Maung Bo of the Ministry of Defence, Chairman of Mon State Peace and Development Council Commander of South-East Command Brig-Gen Thura Myint Aung and officials.

Then, the opening ceremony of the Zaikkaye Sluice Gate built by the Construction Group-6 of Irrigation Department of the Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation was held at the Mingala Pandal near the sluice gate, with an address by the Secretary-1.

First, the Secretary-1 delivered an opening address.

The Secretary-1 said emergence of the sluice gate will help transform the areas on both sides of Zaikkaye and Thaminyoe canals in Thaton Township from wetlands to valuable farmlands. Thus, the sluice gate will benefit the local farmers much.

Bringing good results to local farmers in the township amounts to realizing to an extent the State's goodwill ensuring a peaceful life and good economic and social foundations for the people. The government is going to extend its regional development programmes.

The State has the conviction that there will an equitable social and economic progress among the national races only if there is a proportionate development in all the regions of the nation.

In accord with the conviction, it is building a network of bridges and roads to link all the regions and implementing the 24-development-zone project for harmonious social and economic progress. 

Especially, it is building dams, sluice gates and river water pumping stations in many regions in accord with the requirements for the benefit of the majority who are relying on agriculture as the main business.

Development of roads in the whole nation and the economy including the agriculture business will lead to all-round progress of all the regions of the Union.

The progress in trade and economic foundations will help further develop the social and economic sectors. 

Health, education and human resources development programmes being implemented region-wise will also help further develop the social and economic sectors.

At present all the regions of the Union and the social sector of the people are gaining significant progress.

The economic foundations of the transport, farming and fisheries sectors in Mon State are developing at present.

Mon State is serving as the transport hub of Kayin State, Taninthayi Division and Yangon Division linking them through Thanlwin (Hpa-an) Bridge, Gyaing (Zathabyin) Bridge and Gyaing (Kawkareik) Bridge.

Completion of the Donthami road-cum-railway bridge in Thaton Township smoothens transport on Thaton-Hpa-an road.

Emergence of Mawlamyine-Myeik-Taninthayi road ensures direct link between Mon State and Taninthayi Division. Transport on the road will become smooth at the completion of the three bridges under construction.

Thanlwin Bridge (Mawlamyine) which will become the longest bridge in the nation is under construction at present. The bridge linking Mottama and Mawlamyine will ensure easy links among Yangon Division, Bago Division, Kayin State, Mon State and Taninthayi Division.

As Mon State is located in the centre of the these states and divisions, it is sure that the state will achieve rapid progress.

Crops such as paddy, beans and pulses, edible oil crops and perennial crops including rubber and oil palm grow well in Mon State. Plans are under way to cultivate pepper in the entire nation.

In addition to progress of the other economic sectors, the State is building dams and sluice gates at necessary places for development of the agriculture sector of Mon State.

Over 20,000 acres of brackish land on both sides of Zaikkaye and Thaminyoe canals in Thaton Township were inundated during the rainy season. The Zaikkaye Sluice Gate was built to prevent them from floods during the rainy season and the inflow of sea water.

Six dams and sluice gates including the Zaikkaye Sluice Gate have been built in Mon State at a cost of K 1,533.84 million to irrigate 41,800 acres of crops. 

Kadaik Dam which will irrigate 10,000 acres has been built in Paung Township, Mon State, and Kyonhtaw Sluice Gate which will irrigate 25,000 acres in Thaton Township. Plans are under way to build 20 more dams and sluice gates in the state. The facilities include Kyauksarit Dam, which will irrigate 40,000 acres, Zayitchaung Dam, which will irrigate 300 acres, and Kyaikkaw (Winpa) Dam, which will irrigate 1,300 acres, in Thaton Township.

The State has built 135 irrigation facilities including the Zaikkaye Sluice Gate spending K 57,217.45 million. They are irrigating 1,987,619 acres of crops.

Mon State including Thaton Township possesses good soil and water conditions. Agriculture, livestock breeding, fisheries and other businesses are thriving in the state.

As the government has built transport and irrigation facilities in Mon State, it is sure that the state will gain rapid progress if the local people try their utmost with zeal and perseverance.

The local people are urged to equip themselves with patriotism and to make energetic efforts for progress of agriculture on which the nation is relying.

It is required for local people, social organizations and authorities and departmental personnel to harmoniously take part in the five rural development tasks being implemented in accord with the guidance of Head of State Senior General Than Shwe.

Mon State will gain rapid development if the State renders assistance, the people make efforts and get rid of the tendency to rely on foreign countries. They should effectively use the emerging favorable conditions for development of the region. Rise in the self-reliant spirit among the people will lead to lessening the will to depend on others, to engage in illegal business and vitalizing the spirit to defend the nation.

In conclusion, the Secretary-1 urged the local people to effectively use the land irrigated by the sluice gate for development of the agriculture sector, the region and the social sector of the people; urged the local authorities, departmental personnel and local people to possess Union Spirit and to harmoniously strive for rapid progress of the rural people and improvement of the living standard of the rural people in accord with the goodwill of the Head of State; and urged them to harmonious strive for regional and national development.

Minister for Agriculture and Irrigation Maj-Gen Nyunt Tin delivered a speech.

He said the agricultural sector fulfils 34 per cent of national economy. With the development of the agricultural sector national economic development will become high.

The population of the country is over 51 million. The Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation has been building agricultural structure for development in the length and breath of the nation after laying down long-term projects to fulfill local consumption, to boost agricultural produce and to earn foreign exchange through export, he said.

He said irrigation projects are being undertaken in central Myanmar in order to gain local sufficiency of rice and to export surplus of quality rice. This year, altogether 16.4 million acres of paddy 13.36 million acres of monsoon paddy and 3,04 million acres of summer paddy were grown in lower Myanmar including Mon State to boost rice production, he added. Special zones are being established with the formation of monsoon paddy model townships for production of 1,139 million basket of paddy, he said.

He said arrangements are being made for cultivation of seven million acres of oil crops such as groundnut, sesame, sunflower, niger and mustard. Edible oil project is under way through irrigated sesame special zone and oil palm and Thitseint cultivation that contributes toward local oil sufficiency is also being undertaken.

Altogether 7.8 million acres of beans and pulses that are at the top in the export items were grown this year. Plans are under way for cultivation of 890,000 acres of cotton, 500,000 acres of sugar, 125,000 acres of jute and 480,000 acres of rubber for supply of raw materials to the factories. Extended cultivation of pepper which has much demand in foreign market is being undertaken.

The minister spoke at length on investment in agriculture, technology, irrigation, quality strains, and other requirements, boosting production of rice and crops in Mon State and implementation of major, medium and small scale irrigation projects in upper and central Myanmar and arid zone and highland cultivation in hilly regions.

He said Zaikkaye sluice gate is the 135th irrigation project under the present government.

Chairman of Mon State Peace and Development Council Commander of South East Command Brig-Gen Thura Myint Aung said the State Peace and Development Council is making efforts for emergence of a peaceful, modern developed nation and for raising of quality of life of the people.

He expressed his pleasure for construction of Zaikkaye sluice gate in Thaton Township in Mon State that contributes towards agriculture and greening in the region.

In accord with the guidance of the Head of State, paddy cultivated acreage has been extended. In the previous 2001-2002 fiscal year, monsoon paddy was cultivated in 669,576 acres and summer paddy in 112,513 acres. In this 2002-2003 fiscal year, arrangements have been made to put 672,264 acres under monsoon paddy and 137,650 acres under summer paddy.

Thaton Township of Mon State where Zaikkaye sluice gate is located, has 180 to 200 inches of rainfall annually. The township gets 95 per cent of the annual rainfall from May to September. It hardly gets rainfall in the late rainy season and hence, there was a difficulty in obtaining sufficient water for crops in reaching the maturing stage. The opening of Zaikkaye sluice gate will not only protect over 20,000 acres on either side of Kyauklongyi Creek and Thaminyoe canal from deluge in rainy season but also ensure the availability of water for crops in reaching maturing stage in late rainy season. In summer, the sluice gate will also protect the cultivated lands from inundation caused by entering of sea water. In this way, crops cultivation can be made in time and double and mixed crop pings can also be carried out. Thus, the sluice gate built at a cost of over 305 million kyats is very beneficial to the farmers. It is needed for all to collectively maintain the sluice gate for posterity as well as to abide by the prescribed rules and regulations of the Irrigation department. Head of State Senior General Than Shwe has guided that land and water resources are really important in modernizing and developing the country and earnest efforts must be made for land and water to become value added one. In line with this guidance, residential farmers are to collectively and conscientiously maintain the new sluice gate for long term use.

Afterwards, Peasant U Naing Tun of Htainbin Village, on behalf of local residents and peasants, spoke words of thanks to the State Peace and Development Council for constructing the Zaikkaye sluice gate. Secretary-1 Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt presented gifts to the staff of the Irrigation Department through Director (Construction-6) U Khin Maung Myint and Director (Mechanical, Division-1) U Baw Htin.

The ceremony to open the sluice gate was held at the archway of the sluice gate. Secretary-1 Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt formally pressed the button to unveil the stone inscriptions of the sluice gate.

Minister for Agriculture and Irrigation Maj-Gen Nyunt Tin and Chairman of Mon State Peace and Development Council Commander Brig-Gen Thura Myint Aung formally opened the sluice gate.

After that, the Secretary-1 and party, together with departmental staff, students and local people, posed for documentary photos.

Then, the Secretary-1 cordially greeted those present and the ceremony came to a close.

After the opening ceremony, the Secretary-1 and party arrived at the briefing hall of the sluice gate where Minister Maj-Gen Nyunt Tin reported him on land reclamation in Thaton District, the benefited area of the sluice gate, progress in construction of Kyonhtaw sluice gate, and survey for new three sluice gates to be constructed, the benefited area of the Wapa sluice gate, tasks for Kadaik reservoir that is under construction, survey for construction of Kyauksayit reservoir, category of soil of the reclaimed land and measures for growing crops. Director-General U Kyaw San Win of the Irrigation Department briefed the Secretary-1 on data of the Zaikkaye sluice gate project, construction tasks and the benefited area of the sluice gate.

The Secretary-1 then presented medicine for Htainbin Village rural health branch in Thaton Township.

The Zaikkaye sluice gate lies beside the Zaikkaye canal near Aungkantha Village in Thaton township. It is of reinforced type and has 21 gates each of which is six feet by 12 feet wide. The benefited area of the sluice gate is 20,000 acres and it can prevent the wet land near Thaminyoe canal from flooding. It can store fresh water in late rainy season and prevent inflow of sea water in summer. It is built with the aim of letting rain water flow out rapidly during rainy reason and supplying water in summer.

The Secretary-1 and party arrived back here in the morning.

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( 2 ) Commerce Minister receives guest

Yangon, 25 June - Minister for Commerce Brig-Gen Pyi Sone received Representative of Louis Dreyfus Trading Ltd, Switzwerland, Mr Karl Imhof Wiget and party at his office at 1 pm today. They cordially discussed matters relating to the economic cooperation.

( 3 ) Regional development tasks for Taungup discussed

Yangon, 25 June - Member of the State Peace and Development Council Maj-Gen Khin Maung Than of the Ministry of Defence and party, met with chairmen and members of Thandwe District and Taungup Township Peace and Development Councils, officials, personnel of social organizations and local people and discussed matters on regional development tasks at the Town Hall in Taungup on 23 June morning.

Chairman of Taungup Township Peace and Development Council U Thein Htay Win reported on location and area of Taungup, cultivation of monsoon paddy, double cropping, and projects being implemented for rural development, agriculture, education, health and transport. Maj-Gen Khin Maung Than made an address. He dealt with the projects being implemented by the State for region-wise development and urged to develop agriculture and meat & fish sectors in view of developing regional economy. He gave instructions on double or triple cropping of paddy, beans & pulses and oil crops to exceed the targets in the agriculture sector favorable to Taungup Township; and cultivation of beans & pulses in those lands which are not suitable for summer paddy cultivation.

He also urged to apply scientific cultivation methods for boosting production; to expand coastal and deep sea fisheries; to obtain technical know-how from the Ministry of Livestock & Fisheries for extended breeding of sea and fresh water fish and prawns; and organize local residents for poultry farming. He also called for collective efforts in successfully implementing the five rural development tasks. he said only when there is development in rural areas where majority of the population live, will the entire nation develop. Next, he cordially greeted those present at the meeting.

He then inspected progress of Taungup by car. Later, he met with officers and other ranks and their families of local battalions and units at the hall of Taungup Station. After making an address, he cordially greeted them.

( 4 ) Machines installed in Myanma Farm Equipment Factory

Yangon, 25 June - A ceremony to install machines in Myanma Farm Equipment Factory being implemented under the economic and technical co-operation programme between the Union of Myanmar and the People's Republic of China in Ingon, Kyaukse Township, Mandalay Division, was held at the factory on 23 June morning.

Present on the occasion were Minister for Agriculture and Irrigation Maj-Gen Nyunt Tin, departmental heads, Economic and Commercial Counsellor of the PRC Embassy Mr Jin Honggen and officials, personnel of the Agricultural Mechanization Department and experts of the PRC. The minister and the Chinese counsellor made addresses.

Then, the minister formally unveiled the signboard of the factory. Afterwards, the minister and Mr Jin Honggen fixed the golden nuts to the factory to commerce installation of machines to it. On completion, the factory will produce 10,000 16-HP power tillers and 5,000 harvesters a year and that can contribute towards developing mechanical farming in agricultural sector. After the ceremony, the minister and party inspected machines to be installed in the factory, scale models of the factory and the buildings under construction.

Those in charge conducted them round the factory. The minister and party next inspected the pre-monsoon long staple cotton plantation of farmer U Nyunt Maung at the cotton high yield zone in Kukko Village, Kume Village-tract, Myittha Township. Then, they proceeded to the Shwetaung cotton research and pedigree production farm under Myanmar Cotton and Sericulture Enterprise in Wundwin Township and inspected SR-60 strain cotton, which is thriving, and the cotton plantations of quality strain in the farm.

Later, the minister inspected the research plantation for the development of pre-monsoon long staple cotton strains in the farm, where he was conducted by the officials concerned.

Minister inspects surgical treatments to cleft lip and palate patients

Yangon, 25 June - Minister for Health Maj-Gen Ket Sein, accompanied by Deputy Minister Professor Dr Mya Oo and officials, went to the face, jaw and oral surgery unit of Yangon General Hospital on Bogyoke Aung San Street this afternoon and inspected the operations jointly performed by Myanmar specialists and Interplast group of Australia.

The 15-member Myan-mar specialist group led by Professor Dr Khin Maung Lwin of the face, jaw and oral surgery unit and the 7-member Australian group led by Dr Michael Mc Glynn and Dr Gary Buckland of Melbourne-based the Interplast group undertook the operations. The Interplast group of Australia successfully gave two-time surgical treatments to 54 cleft lip and palate patients in cooperation with Myanmar specialists. Today's operation is the third time. Beginning 17 June, surgical treatments were given to 61 patients successfully.

The Ministry of Health is accelerating the surgical treatments to cleft lip and palate patients throughout the country. Five foreign specialists groups together with Myanmar specialists gave surgical treatments toÊ1,328 patients for 28 times from 1998 to date. In addition, 1,141 patients were given surgical treatments successfully from 1999 to date by Myanmar specialists under the arrangement of the Ministry of Health and sponsorship of Myanmar Maternal and Child Welfare Association and well-wishers.

Therefore, 2,469 cleft lip and palate patients have been given treatments. Arrangements are being made to give surgical treatments to cleft lip and palate patients throughout the nation.

Industry-1 Minister inspects factories in Yangon Division

Yangon, 25 June - Minister for Industry-1 U Aung Thaung, accompanied by officials, went to the plastic factory No 2 of Myanma Pharmaceutical Industries in Mayangon Township here this morning. The minister inspected there the production of plastic bowls, stoppers of the molding division, plastic bags in various sizes, plastic water-pipes, PVC pipes and plastic finished goods, and gave instructions.

At the briefing hall of the factory, the minister heard reports on production and distribution works by officials before giving instructions on use of modern machines in place of old ones and repair of old machines without harming the productions works. Then, the minister visited Dagon soft drinks and ice factory (Branch-2) in Sangyoung Township and there he gave instructions to officials on taking measures to upgrade the factory. He also inspected the sales of the Industry-1's products at Hanthawady Win Thuza shop in the township, Dagon soft drinks and ice factory (Branch-6) in Bahan Township and Dagon soft drinks and ice factory (Branch-5) in Yankin Township and left instructions.

Labour Minister attends work coordination meeting

Yangon, 25 June - The Ministry of Labour held its first four-monthly work coordination meeting 2002 at the meeting hall of the Social Security Board on Strand Road in Ahlon Township here this morning, with an address by Minister for Labour U Tin Winn.

Present at the meeting were, Deputy Minister Brig-Gen Win Sein and directors-general from departments and chairmen from committees, medical superintendents of worker hospitals, and officials. The minister spoke on the occasion. Officials reported to the minister on welfare activities, cultivation of kitchen crops and livestock breeding. Director-General of the Labour Department U Soe Nyunt and Director-General of Central Inland Freight Handling Committee U Maung Maung Oh then presented reviews of the reports. U Khin Maung Yi, Director-General of Central Trade Disputes Committee, also presented reports to the minister and then the fist-day session of the meeting came to an end. The meeting will continue tomorrow.

( 5 ) Seminar on Statistics held

Yangon, 25 June - The opening ceremony of Seminar on Statistics, jointly organized by Central Statistical Organization of the Ministry of National Planning and Economic Development and Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), Japan, was held at the International Business Centre (IBC) on Pyay Road here this morning.

It was attended by Minister for National Planning and Economic Development U Soe Tha, heads of departments, representatives from JICA office, invited guests and participants. First, Minister U Soe Tha delivered the opening speech and Mr Kiyoshi Koinuma, Charge d'Affaires of Japanese Embassy gave a speech. The 45 participants from seventeen departments under the eleven ministries will participate in the seminar and it will be held from today to June 27.

( 6 ) Yangon Command Commander's shield shooting tournament held

Yangon, 25 June - The opening ceremony of Yangon Command Commander's shield shooting tournament for 2002 was held this morning at Mingaladon Station here. Chairman of Yangon Division Peace and Development Council Commander of Yangon Command Maj-Gen Myint Swe attended and opened the ceremony. It was also attended by No 4 Military Region Commander Brig-Gen Myo Myint and Military Region commanders, the station commanders, senior military officers, invited guests and fans. Sixteen shooting teams of regiments and units under Yangon Command will take part in the tournament and it will continue till 4 July.