The fourth regular session of the First Pyithu Hluttaw continued for 13th day at Pyithu Hluttaw in Hluttaw Complex, here, today, attended by Pyithu Hluttaw Speaker Thura U Shwe Mann and 405 MPs.
Regarding the question of U Thein Yi of Htantabin Constituency about if there is any plan for stability of rice market, keeping fertilizer price down and investigation into proportion of propositions of fertilizer, Deputy Minister for Agriculture and Irrigation U Ohn Than replied that rice dealing companies have been formed and are growing quality paddy strains on trial for fetching good price of exported items and increased export revenues. Republic of the Union of Myanmar Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry has been taking measures to introduce rice importing technologies from abroad with a view to penetrating international rice market.
Currently, Myanmar rice is paid lower than rice from other countries due to its inferior quality. So, it has been focused on cultivation of quality strains competitive with others to be able to fetch same price.
100 baskets of monsoon paddy for K 330,000 and 100 baskets of summer paddy for 320,000 and has purchased 13.3267 million baskets of monsoon paddy 1.5455 million baskets of summer paddy, stabilizing the domestic rice market to some extent. In addition, measures are being taken for easy importation of modern rice milling equipment to be able to produce high-quality rice. Production of rice with the use of modern milling machine would contribute to increased price and competitiveness. The Ministry of Commerce together with rice associations and traders would tour ASEAN countries, African countries and European countries very soon to market Myanmar rice penetrating new markets.
The government has planned to loan fertilizers to farmers through rice dealing companies to ensure farmers have easy access to fertilizer at reasonable price.
Regarding the investigation into composition of nitrogen, phosphorous and potash in fertilizer, the Agriculture Department of the Agriculture and Irrigation Ministry scrutinize the fertilizer to be imported into the country in line with fertilization importation procedures and issue import permits for fertilizers.
Rice is exported to neighbouring countries through respective border trade camps. Higher price than conventional exportation and ability to transport the commodity into the hands of purchaser in the other countries in time are advantages of exportation through border trade camps, benefitting both farmers and exporters of the country. A total of 30 billion kyats has been funded—10 billion from the State, 10 billion from Central Cooperative Union and 10 billion from Myanmar Rice Industry Association—to form State Rice Reserve Supervisory Committee to purchase rice reserve at a set price, enabling farmers gain reasonable price for their rice. The committee has purchased Deputy Minister for Electric Power No (1) U Myint Zaw replied to question of U Aye Mauk of Mahlaing Constituency about resources for electricity generation and question of U Ye Tun of Thandwe Constituency about what measures would be taken to displace people due to Thahtay Hydropower Project.
Regarding the first question, the deputy minister replied that there are 19 hydropower plants, 1 coal fired power plant under the Ministry of Electric Power No (1) and 15 natural gas and boiler power plants, installed with total capacity of 3494.9 megawatts and generated 10338.08 kilowatt hours in 201-2012 fiscal year and distributed to the national grid. Upon completion of ongoing projects namely Chipwenge, Phyu Creek, Thaukyekhak (2) Bilu Creek (3), Upper Bilu Creek (2) and Upper Paunglaung from 2012-2013 fiscal year to 2014-2015 fiscal year, 2383.7 kilowatt hours electricity could be produced, installed with 520 megawatts capacity in total. The deputy minister continued to say that Anchaung, Thahtay, Upper Kengtawng, Upper Yeywa and Shweli-3 projects would produced 1502 megawatt and 5527 KWH upon completion from 2016-2017 to 2020- 2021.
To fulfill electricity demand on a temporary basis, six gas power plants in Yangon will be upgraded. Major repair will be carried out at Ywama gas power plant. Upon completion of repair, it would produce more 110 megawatt.
The ministry is in negotiation with China based Hydrolancang Co Ltd to establish 543-megawatt gas power plant, with Korea-based Busan Korea Biotechnology to establish 500-megawatt gas power plant, with Thailandbased Toyo Thai Co to built 100-megawatt gas power plant in Insein, and with Thai EGAT Co to urgently built one 110-megawatt gas power plant. Regarding the second question, the deputy minister said village relocation plan was drafted by district and township authorities and departmental personnel under leadership of Thandwe District Peace and Development Council in April, 2009.
Reclamation of farmlands, electrification and repair of village roads will be carried out coming open season in coordination with project and local authorities. School bus will ply daily for schoolchildren. Daw Dwe Bu of N’Jiangyan Constituency, Daw Zatalan of Thantlang Constituency, U Aye of Homalin Constituency and U Shi Thee of Leshi Constituency discussed the proposal for prescribing legislation safeguarding rights of ethnic people submitted by U T Khun Myat of Kutkai Constituency. They discussed the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw should be in a rush to prescribe the law and rules to safeguard the rights of ethnic races. Suggestions and comments from region and state government members, region and state Hluttaw speakers and representatives, national race affairs minister, members of ethnic literature and culture committee, ethnic leaders, local people and armed national people under ceasefire agreement as well as armed groups which are yet to agree ceasefire.
The proposal should be approved as the legislation is a sine qua none in democratic reform of the country and it plays a key role in lasting democracy in Myanmar. The legislation will ensure equitable rights for all races in Myanmar for making the united country for ever a reality. It is a genuine goodwill of the government which extended a border affairs ministry to bring about equitable development to the hilly regions where the national people lived. The drafting of the law will contribute to the pursuit of the eternal peace. The lawmakers will further discuss the proposals in next coming sessions. At today’s session three questions were answered and one proposal submitted. The session concluded at noon and it will continue for 14th day at 10 am on 25 July 2012.—