Moneyin Dam helps local farmers grow summer paddy

Long ago, Moneyin in Namtu Township, Shan State (North), was a secluded region with poor transport and armed insurgency reigned supreme there.
After 1988, the Tatmadaw government managed to make peace with armed groups and expedited projects for all-round development of the regions across the nation. As part of the plan, it constructed roads and bridges to form a network of transport facilities covering the whole country along with dams wherever necessary and possible. So far, it has constructed 219 dams, including Zeechaung Dam in Kyauktaw Township, Rakhine State, that was inaugurated recently.

Moneyin in Namtu Township, Shan State (North), has been enjoying the taste of peace. Moneyin Dam constructed at a cost of about K 1690 million was put into service on 31 May 2008. With a maximum water storage capacity of 25,900 acre feet, the 1700 feet long and 100 feet high earthen type facility is on the Namhswan Creek. The dam also can generate 2.2 million kilowatt hours a year. Now, No (4) secondary canal of the dam has been dug, thus increasing the irrigated area of farmlands to 4000 acres.

Moneyin is constituted with 27 villages of three village-tracts: Moneyin (Mongyin), Weinnan and Mansarlon. In the past, the region was in no position to grow summer paddy. It put 50 acres under summer paddy in 2006; 150 acres in 2007; and 800 acres in 2008. The construction of Moneyin Dam led to reclamation of 2000 acres of lands designed to scale up cultivation of summer paddy.

Thanks to the facility, the paddy fields that relied on rainwater previously have become irrigated ones, and some vacant lands were reclaimed to grow paddy.

When asked about reclamation of fallow lands, Director U Nyo Win of the Highland Reclamation Project (1) under the Agricultural Mechanization Depart-ment told the Myanma Alin Daily, “Our project is based in Lashio in northern Shan State. Now, we are reclaiming vacant lands around Moneyin Dam.” Deputy Director (Civil) U Phone Tin of the Irrigation

Department said that the dam was irrigating farmlands in Weiknan, Mongyin, Ahtet-manti, Auk-manti, Kaungkye and Khoma villages in Namtu Townships; and due to the dam, some farmlands were not flooded any longer, and local people could grow summer paddy and the region's rice supply had met the demand.

Manager U Win Hlaing Oo of Shan State (North) Myanma Perennial Crops Enterprise said, “Moneyin is about 20 miles from Namtu. We had to pass through Namtu if we wanted to go to Lashio. The road was not in good condition in the rainy season. Mostly, local people do highland farming, grow beans and pulses and corn, cut down trees in the forests for firewood and charcoal. Due to Moneyin Dam, there has been a 20 miles long motor road between Lashio and Moneyin, and local people have broadened their horizons a lot. Now, they grow vegetables in addition to monsoon and summer paddy. We will grow rubber in the deforested areas and on barren hills to maintain the dam. In that regard, we have a plan to grow rubber on 20,000 acres of vacant lands around Moneyin to conserve the watershed areas, to make t