Blockage of “Yin Nyine” water canal creates loss for farmers

June 17, 2025

HURFOM: Farmers from Paung Township, Mon State rely on the “Yin Nyine” water canal which is located between Thell Gone and Phyu Ba villages for their farming operations. However, a blockage of the canal is delaying their farmwork and is creating a financial loss for this year.

The Thaton District Irrigation Department has always conducted regular maintenance of the canal during the summer season, but this year, they have failed to do the annual maintenance tasks. As a result, silt has blocked the canal and disrupted the water flow.

The blockage of the canal created tens of thousands of acres of farmland being flooded.

“When the water level rises up, the silt soil accumulates in the canal. We have to remove it in summer. But this year, the irrigation department failed to do their job. They don’t care about their duty,” said a local farmer.

The young paddy plants in Phy Ba, Ka Ton, Kyone Haw and Thel Gone villages, Paung Township were destroyed due to the blockage of the canal.

Local farmers have to spend 350,000 MMK to maintain each acre of farmland and some farmers have had to finance a second planting/per acre.

“We’ve filed a report to the irrigation department. They replied they didn’t have enough farm machinery. The water level hasn’t gone down. If we can’t lower the water level now, it’s too late to plant rainy paddy plants. The price of rice will increase next year,” said another farmer.

June is the best time to start “rainy paddy operations” but the military government has excluded farmers from accessing new loans to farmers who failed to repay old loans. This policy decision has meant that some farmers are unable to finance their operations.

Written by HURFOM · Filed Under News