Update from the Delta
(7-July-2008)
The following were completed or carried out:
1.
Shou Chaung village’s school was completed on the 30 June 2008
and the the school was reopened on the 1st July by
the Venerable from Kyar Chaung (“kyar” pronounce as “chia” as in
Chinese name).
2.
Nyein Oo monastery roof was repaired and it is being used to run
the school.
3.
Ta Pyay Chaung school is similar to Shou
Chaung (the floor remain intact so construction can be done
during this monsoon period), it is being rebuilt. On behalf of
FFM, I had handed over Kyats 9 million to Ven. U Sopaka to
rebuild the school. This is done after all that could be done in
planting the rice during this period.
4.
A total of 10 machines were bought, 6 for Shou Chaung village, 3
for Nyein Oo village. One for Kyar Chaung Chaung village. Total
acreage covered is 1,604 acres. The actual size is more than
1,604 because some farmers had finished tilling their own land.
5.
Ploughing had been completed in Shou Chaung (250 acres) and the
machines are being fan across Ziphyu and Kyar Chaung villages.
By end of July, all the land in the 5 villages should be
ploughed and planted.
6.
There are a total of 5 villages in the township of Mawlemyaing
Gyun – local call 'Maw Gyun":
1) Shou Chaung,
2) Kyar Chaung,
3) Ta Pyay Chaung,
4) Nyein Oo,
5) Ziphyu (consists of 4
smaller villages under Ziphyu),
that were given help in rice seeds, diesel fuel and tilling the
field. One and half basket of paddy seeds per acre, one gallon
per acre and help were giving in tilling the land with the
machine donated by FFM. In addition farmers who own ploughing
machines were asked to help with their neighbours’s land after
they had finished tilling their field. Most of them agreed to
help and were be given engine oil for the use of the machine.
They would handle their own machines to till others land.
7.
Most of the villages accepted the full aids. Meetings were held
with all the villages and had to be done separately. Suggestion
was proposed by me on the taking of 5 precepts before the formal
commencement of the meeting. The Venerables (Ven Sopaka & Ven
Jotika are brothers) accepted my suggestion. To even out the
donation distribution, the farmers are asked to dana back 3
baskets of paddy after the harvest. All of them readily accepted
our proposal because they gain more. Market rate for every one
basket borrowed 2 have to be paid. The rice would be use for the
improvement of the their respective village like school,
building of bridges and footpath, purchase water pumps to grow
hot season paddy and others.
8.
Our programs are very comprehensive because we help the farmers
with 3 items to bring the land into growing rice.
more photo from
the Delta (updated on 18-Jul-08)
Report Prepared by:
S.T. Chan from Myanmar
7-July-2008
