Several dams that prevent seawater entering thousands of acres of farmland in western Arakan State are in urgent need of repair after recently being damaged by Cyclone Komen.
According to Arakanese farmers if the repairs are not carried out within the month there could be massive destruction of crops and livestock.
Cyclone Komen, which struck during the last week of July, damaged several dams that prevent seawater from entering farmland. The affected dams are in the Arakan townships of Min Bya, Myae Pon, Pauk Taw and Ra Thae Taung. If they are not repaired soon huge areas of farmland could be destroyed.
U Saw Shwe Maung, a farmer from Rathidaung Township said: "If Kyee Kyan Dam in Rathidaung Township is not reconstructed, we will have nothing to harvest in 1709 acres of farmland. So we recommend that the concerned officials take proper action."
Many farmers have asked town committee officials and Irrigation Department officials to do something but, allegedly, the relevant officers responsible for the upkeep of the dams have ignored the farmers' pleas.
An irrigation official said they are still discussing with farmers how to best save the paddy fields. He also said that the Irrigation Department has already asked the government to sanction a payment of 25 million kyats to pay for the repair of a four-mile-long, six-foot-high dam.
Arakan State is in the western coastal region of Burma and in many areas dams are necessary to prevent seawater entering paddy fields and ruining them, which is why the farmers are so concerned and are appealing to the authorities for help to maintain and repair the dams.
Edited in English by Mark Inkey for BNI
