Press Release

Currently, a lot of famers are involved in cultivation of summer paddy in Shwebo, Sagaing Region. Shwebo Paw San, one of famous paddy species in Myanmar, is largely cultivated in this area. In order to work with farmers in Shwebo and improve agricultural productivity, three Japanese agricultural machinery companies, Kubota, Minoru and Yanmar, demonstrated how transplanting machines of each company worked in the field in Leik Chin Village.

The event was held in Leik Chin village in Shwebo on August 17, 2019. as a part of Agricultural Income Improvement Project which is implemented by JICA and Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation (MoALi). The demonstration work attracted around 150 farmers as well as government officials.

Mr. Yasunori ARAKI, JICA Expert on Agriculture Policy who is assigned at explains that agricultural mechanization would be one of the key factors of agricultural development. "In case of Japan, after introducing agricultural machinery, it has increased 20% of paddy production. "

U Tin Tun, a farmer cultivating Shwebo Paw San, said, "In near future, based on techniques and price, I would like to purchase a transplanting machinery on my own in order for more effective cultivation. I found that the machine demonstrated by Japanese companies are quite suitable for my paddy field."

Operation and maintenance of the machine will be other fundamental factor for sustainable mechanization, which leads to income generation of farmers. Japanese companies explains about the solution that each company may provide. Kubota inform about phone call based after service, instead of having extensive workshop session etc- so that the farmer may utilize the machine with support once it is delivered.

Minoru highlighted easier maintenance due to the nature of the machine. Farmers may repair by themselves even having no specific training. Yanmar offered the invitation to the training for operation and maintenance of all users, which may conducted within their premises at Thilawa SEZs. Also, the company provides maintenance service periodically in Myanmar.

JICA, together with MoALI, is supporting infrastructure of agricultural facilities, such as irrigation, whilst supporting technically also the management of agricultural process which leads to income generation- such as seeds centre, planting and dissemination of the good practices. Such facility development is based upon MoALI's master plan, started with West Bago area and now Ayeyarwady river basin, which covers Shwebo area in Sagaing Region.

Facebook page of "Kubota"

Facebook page of "Yanmar"

(Minoru has no FB page)