The State shall provide inputs such as technology, investments,
machinery, raw materials etc. as much as it can
for changeover from manual to mechanized agriculture

Yangon, 19 Feb - On behalf of the Panel of Chairmen, Member of the Panel of Alternate Chairmen Dr Myo Thant Tin of the Delegates of Workers presented the panel of chairmen's collection of excerpts from the suggested proposals submitted by delegates to the National Convention on the agriculture and livestock breeding sector at the Pyidaungsu Hall of the Nyaunghnapin Camp in Hmawby Township, Yangon Division, yesterday.

The following is a translation of presentation made by Dr Myo Thant Tin.

Esteemed delegates, Now, a collection of the excerpts from the suggestions compiled by the panel of meeting chairmen concerning the 11 points of the agricultural and livestock breeding sector to be scheduled to be included in the sharing the legislative power will be presented.

Esteemed delegates,

At the plenary meeting held on 19 May 2004, the Work Committee Chairman said, "Now, I will continue to explain matters relating to the agriculture and livestock breeding sector. The first one of the four State objectives states, " Development of agriculture as the base and all-round development of other sectors of the economy as well." The National Convention has also laid down the detailed basic principles Ñ The State shall provide inputs such as technology, investments, machinery, raw materials etc. as much as it can for changeover from manual to mechanized agriculture.

What I have so far presented is the matters that must be put in the agriculture and livestock sector and that should be included in the Union Legislative list. They may be stated together as follows:

1. land management,

2. reclamation of vacant, fallow and virgin lands,

3. settlement and land records,

4. survey,

5. dams, embankments and water supply managed by Pyidaungsu,

6. meteorology, hydrology and seismic survey,

7. registration, 8. mechanized farming,

9. agricultural research,

10. chemical fertilizer and insecticide, and

11. marine fisheries.

Therefore, delegates to the National Convention are to give suggestions as to whether or not the detailed basic principles should be laid down to include them in the Union Legislative list to enact laws, if necessary, in connection with the matters mentioned above."

He continued to say, "The matters of the agriculture and livestock sector that should be included in the Region or State Legislative list are as follows:

1. agriculture,

2. prevention and control of pests,

3. proper use of chemical fertilizer and systematic production of inorganic fertilizer,

4. agricultural loans and savings,

5. dams, embankments, lakes, ditches and supply of irrigation water, for which the divisions or states have the right to manage,

6. fresh water fisheries, and

7. livestock breeding, prevention and treatment of diseases and the keeping of animals systematically.

Therefore, the delegates to the Convention are to give suggestions as to whether or not the detailed basic principles should be laid down to include them in the Region or State Legislative list in connection with the matters mentioned above."

The National Unity Party said that the land management, reclamation of vacant, fallow and virgin lands, and settlement and land records should be included in the Union legislative list. The legislative power for dams, embankments, lakes, ditches and supply of irrigation water is being distributed to regions and states. It is appropriate to distribute the legislative power concerning lakes, ditches and supply of irrigation water to regions and states. The party sees inclusion of meteorology, hydrology and seismic survey, registration, mechanized farming, agricultural research, chemical fertilizer and insecticide, and marine fisheries in the Union legislative list appropriate.

The Union Pa-O National Organization said that land and water are the main requirements of the agricultural sector. Thus, the Government has been building irrigation facilities with might and main. Myanmar should train its staff to be skilled in conducting meteorology, hydrology and seismic survey and research. The Government has laid down six work programmes for agricultural mechanization. It had also formed the Myanmar Industrial Development Committee and set up industrial zones all over the country. It will conduct research work constantly and make arrangements for distributing adequate amount of fertilizers and pesticides in all parts of the nation. Sea and fresh water fishing should be carried out in accord with the procedures. Land management, reclamation of vacant, fallow and virgin lands, settlement and land records, survey, dams, embankments and water supply managed by Pyidaungsu, meteorology, hydrology and seismic survey, registration, .mechanized farming, agricultural research, chemical fertilizer and insecticide, and marine fisheries should be included in the Union legislative list as basic principles. The seven points of the sector should also be included in the region or state legislative list.

Mro or Khami National Solidarity Organization said that the 11 points of the agricultural and livestock breeding sector should be included in the Union legislative list and the seven points of the sector should be included in the region of state legislative list.

Lahu National Development Party said that the 11 points of the agricultural and livestock breeding sector should be included in the Union legislative list and the seven points of the sector should be included in the region of state legislative list.

Union Kayin League said that it is appropriate to include the 11 points of the agricultural and livestock breeding sector in the Union legislative list. The party has no other suggestions concerning the inclusion of the seven points of the sector in the region or state legislative list.

Kokang Democracy and Unity Party said that sharing of the legislative power concerning the agricultural and livestock breeding sector between the Union and the regions or states is appropriate.

Wa National Development Party said that in the past successive eras, the laws concerning the land management were enacted by the highest law-making body of the nation. Land management policies have been laid down and necessary laws have been enacted for successful materialization of the agricultural goals. As explained by the Work Committee Chairman, the 11 points of the agricultural and livestock breeding sector should be included in the Union legislative list.

The Work Committee Chairman has also pointed out the sectors to be put under the management of regions and states. Thus, the seven points of the agricultural and livestock breeding sector should be included in the region or state legislative list.

Of the five papers presented by representatives-elect group, the papers presented by the delegates of the National Unity Party and the Mro or Khami National Solidarity Organization are the same as the ones presented by the delegates of the respective parties in the political parties delegate group.

Representative-elect Dr Hmu Htan of Thantlan Township constituency in Chin State, and Representative-elect U Aung Thein of Ywangan Township constituency in Shan State said that the 11 points of the agricultural and livestock breeding sector should be included in the Union legislative list and the seven points of the sector should be included in the region or state legislative list. Representatives-elect U Tin Win of Kyaiklat Township constituency-2, U Thein Kyi of Taungdwingyi Township constituency-1, U Hla Soe of Minbu Township constituency-2, U Mya Hlaing of Twantay Township constituency-2, U Kyi Win of Mingaladon Township constituency-1 and U Tin Tun Maung of Mingaladon Township constituency-2 said that the Union of Myanmar has different types of land for reclamation, and possibility of the occurrence of natural hazards is also different between one region and another and they are subject to various climatic conditions. Authorities of the regions and states and self-administered areas should be permitted to reclaim land for development of various sectors without going against the Union laws.

Moreover, the tasks regarding settlement and land records, survey, dams, embankments and water supply managed by Pyidaungsu, meteorology, hydrology and seismic survey, registration, mechanized farming, agricultural research, and chemical fertilizer and insecticide should be included in the Union legislative list. It is appropriate to include the sector concerning the marine fisheries in the Union legislative list to enact laws for local and foreign fishing enterprises running business in the vast Myanmar territorial waters.

Representative-elect U Tun Kyaw of Namhsan Township constituency in northern Shan State said that in addition to taking measures for agricultural development, crops cultivation businesses that should help develop border areas should be extended.

In hill regions it is difficult to cultivate paddy, sugarcane, cotton, and beans and pulses on an extensive scale. Slash-and-burn cultivation destroys forests and causes adverse weather changes . Thus the nation needs to introduce advanced farming methods. Locals should conduct manageable-scale research on their own crop plantations till the emergence of large-scale farms run by the State or by big companies. They should conduct research, set up model farms, visit farms of other nations and invite foreign experts. Otherwise, Myanmar market will be flooded with foodstuff such as apples, tea, garlic ect imported from other countries within a few years. Research projects in regions and states and self-administered areas must be permitted if they are not against the Union law. Thus, the 11 points of the agricultural and livestock breeding sector should be included in the Union legislative list and the seven points of the sector should be included in the region or state legislative list. The national race delegate group said that the 11 points of the agricultural and livestock breeding sector should be included in the Union legislative list and the seven points of the sector should be included in the region or state legislative list.

In giving a separate suggestion, the group dealt with the occurrence, control and vaccination of animal diseases. The State will have to conduct research to produce new and potent vaccines and to prevent the spread of animal diseases in regions or states bordering the countries where the infection starts. A basic principle concerning the animal disease prevention and treatment should be included in the Union legislative list. The term "livestock breeding, prevention and treatment of diseases and the keeping of animals systematically" of the matters regarding the agriculture and livestock sector that should be included in the region or state legislative list should be substituted with the term "Livestock breeding and keeping of animals systematically."

Generally, industrial nations are rich. But they have to make arrangements to obtain adequate amount of raw materials to get rich. Thus, cultivation of paddy, beans and pulses, sugarcane, cotton, coffee should be extended for local consumption and export, according to the national race delegate group.

Peasant delegate group said that the first objective of the four economic objectives calls for "Development of agriculture as the base and all-round development of other sectors of economy as well." Targets should be set to extend food and industrial crop production for local consumption as well as for export. Policies for land reclamation, survey and irrigation works should be laid down and necessary laws should be enacted to realize the targets. In this context, the 11 points of the agricultural and livestock breeding sector should be included in the Union legislative list.

The regions and states have the duty to give close supervision to the national plans for their success. Thus, the seven points of the agricultural and livestock breeding sector should be included in the region or state legislative list. Worker delegate group said that the 11 points of the agricultural and livestock breeding sector should be included in the Union legislative list and the seven points of the sector should be included in the region or state legislative list.

Intellectuals and intelligentsia delegate group discussed in support of the 11 points of the agricultural and livestock breeding sector that should be included in the Union legislative list and the seven points of the sector that should be included in the region or state legislative list. The group gave a suggestion to add the point "Animal reproduction, disease control and treatment, and research" as the 12th of the 11 points to be included in the Union legislative list. It also gave a suggestion to substitute the term Òlivestock breeding, prevention and treatment of diseases and the keeping of animals systematically" of the matters regarding the agriculture and livestock sector that should be included in the region or state Legislative list should be substituted with the term ÒLivestock breeding and keeping of animals systematically."

State service personnel delegate group said that 11 points of the agricultural and livestock breeding sector should be included in the Union legislative list. It also added the sector "Animal generation, disease control and treatment, and research" as the 12th of the 11 points. Livestock should be kept systematically to avoid causing public annoyance. Thus the sector "Animal reproduction, disease control and treatment, and research" should be included in the Union legislative list.

The group discussed in support of the points from 1 to 6 out of the seven that should be included in the region or state legislative list, suggesting to substitute the seventh point "livestock breeding, prevention and treatment of diseases and the keeping of animals systematically" with the term "Livestock breeding and keeping of animals systematically," in accord with the law enacted by the Union.

In connection with this, the group said regions and states should give close supervision to the task of livestock breeding and keeping of animals systematically. Thus the task should be included in the region or state legislative list.

Other invited persons delegates group said that in his clarification, the Work Committee Chairman said, "The State shall provide inputs such as technology, investments, machinery, raw materials etc. as much as it can for changeover from manual to mechanized agriculture." As the point is in accord with the State's economic objectives, the group discussed in support of the 11 points to be included in the Union legislative list and the seven points to be included n the region or state legislative list.

If the regions and states are permitted to manage land, produce and use chemical fertilizers and pesticides and conduct research work, the nation's agricultural sector will achieve rapid development.

Of the points that should be included in the Union legislative list, the following sectors

1. land management,

2. reclamation of vacant, fallow and virgin lands,

8. mechanized farming,

 9. agricultural research,

10. chemical fertilizer and insecticide, and 11. marine fisheries" should be permitted to run by the regions ad states.