Bago Pushes High-Value Rice Revival

FIELD operations are currently underway across Bago Region to revive and expand the cultivation of high-value indigenous rice varieties, according to the Bago Re­gion government.

At present, a 50-acre seed production plot of the indigenous Taungp­yan rice variety has been successfully established in Natputee Village, Paungde Township, Nattalin Dis­trict. To expand cultivation of this high-value regional variety for both domestic and export markets, offi­cials plan to carry out seed purification, propagation and large-scale block cul­tivation.

In Letpadan Township, local farmers are being supported in cultivating high-value crops suited to the region’s soil and climate following the monsoon rice harvest. Authorities have distributed Yezin-15 soy­bean seeds to encourage post-harvest soybean cul­tivation and have raised 50,000 Robusta coffee sap­lings for distribution.

In addition, awareness programmes are being con­ducted across Bago Region to demonstrate soil im­provement using biochar, produced from discarded rice husks as an alterna­tive to chemical fertilizers and pesticides, as well as techniques for producing foliar fertilizers locally. — ASH/TH