Agriculture and Livestock Development Commission holds second meeting

THE second meeting of the Ag­ricultural and Livestock Devel­opment Commission was held at the Department of Agricultural Research (Yezin) yesterday af­ternoon.

 

Present at the meeting online were Agricultural and Livestock Development Com­mission Chairman General Nyo Saw, commission members, the Nay Pyi Taw Council chairman and relevant officials. Chief min­isters and ministers of state and region, governments, and repre­sentatives from the Republic of the Union of Myanmar Federa­tion of Chambers of Commerce and Industry (UMFCCI).

 

During the meeting, Chair­man General Nyo Saw stated that the development of agro-based industries is essential for the country’s economic growth and the well-being of the peo­ple. He emphasized the need to establish agriculture, livestock and industrial high schools to facilitate this progress. He also pointed out the importance of transitioning from traditional farming system to a more sys­tematic one, which requires a well-trained workforce.

 

To achieve this, regions and states must work together to pro­duce skilled human resources in agriculture and livestock breeding. He highlighted that Myanmar has a strong economic foundation and that the agricul­tural and livestock industries must be enhanced to contrib­ute to national economic growth. Development zones for livestock breeding must be established, ensuring that breeding activities align with appropriate regional conditions.

 

He also stressed the need to address water availability for agricultural activities by utiliz­ing rainwater, dam water, un­derground water and river wa­ter. Regions near major rivers should implement water-pump­ing projects for irrigation. He suggested using solar energy to generate electricity for these operations, mentioning that both government-led and private sec­tor-driven solar energy projects can be undertaken to meet ener­gy demands.

 

Regarding investment, he stated that financial support in­cluding project loans would be provided as necessary. He called for close cooperation between the commission and regional governments to implement these initiatives effectively.

 

He then urged authorities to streamline investment approval processes for both domestic and foreign investors in the agricul­tural and livestock industries. The provision of necessary tech­nologies, electricity and capital for agro-based industries is cru­cial for their sustainable devel­opment.

 

He also emphasized that the 21 key responsibilities of the Agricultural and Livestock Development Commission must be closely coordinated with ministries and regional gov­ernments. Ministries, relevant departments, and regional gov­ernments were encouraged to provide feedback and collaborate in carrying out these responsibil­ities efficiently.

 

The commission chairman then inspected the model farms and research plantations under the Department of Agricultural Research, which are testing the triple-cropping system. During the visit, the director-general of the Department of Agricultural Research and the Department of Livestock Research briefed the chairman on their ongoing and future research projects. The chairman then provided the nec­essary guidance.

 

Following this, the chairman visited the seed sample exhibi­tion halls, seed banks, and ag­ricultural technology dissemi­nation facilities. He also visited the television studio dedicated to farmer education and agricultur­al broadcasting. — MNA/KZL