Drought hits central Myanmar

Photo A dry lake in KhinU Township.

​27 Aug 18Farmers in the central Myanmar are facing difficulty in growing seasonal crops as there is a shortage of water due to drought.

Source: Eleven Myanmar

Farmers in some regions in Mandalay, Magway and Sagaing have to rely only on rainwater to grow crops. Due to less rains, only farmers who get access to irrigation system can grow monsoon paddy and seasonal crops.

A farmer from Shwebo District said: "This is the best time to grow monsoon paddy. Farmers are unable to grow paddy and other crops due to less rain here. Lower Myanmar faces floods due to heavy rains. Paddy saplings are going to die if there is no rain. Now a water lake has run dry. We can grow nothing if rain is late."

In Magway region, some farmers face problems such as low crop harvest and damages to some plantations.

Rain-triggered floods hit Tanintharyi Region, Ayeyarwady Region, Bago Region, Mon State and Kayin State, destroying many acres of paddy farms.

Due to floods in July and August, there were 22 reported deaths across the country, according to the National Disaster Management Committee at the Ministry of Social Welfare Relief and Resettlement.


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