Famine feared due to Drought & military action
Aug 25, 2009 - A Karenni field worker has reported that the water level in the Ngwe Daung Dam is very low due to a recent drought and this is threatening the newly planted crops of farmers in Deemawsoe and Pruso townships.
Rainfall was below average in May and it stopped in the traditional planting month of June. Both the farmers who rely on regular rainfall, and those who use the Ngwe Daung Dam for irrigation, have been affected, as all the newly planted paddies have dried up.
The Ngwe Daung Dam usually provides water to 20,000 acres of rice fields in Deemawso township, but this year the irrigation department have been instructed by the Burmese military commanders from LIB no. 427 and IB no. 102 to only provide water to the military’s own rice fields, which were planted on land confiscated from local farmers.
There are 1,000 acres of farmland owned by farmers from 8 villages in Hteepokloe and 5 villages in Daw Klawleh which rely on water from the Seven Lakes. Another 500 acres of farmland owned by farmers from 8 villages in Pruso Township are also affected by the drought.
Farmers in Palong, Loikaw, are also facing problems with drought and our source reports it is feared that the population if these areas will face food shortages by the end of this year.
Compounding the farmer’s problems is that at the same time as dealing with the drought, villagers in Loilin Lay, Loikaw Township, and Pruso Township are still being forced to take time away from their farms to provide bamboo and free labour in military camps run by LIB no. 530, LIB no. 428 and LIB no. 531.
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