In order to clampdown on backyard livestock breeding and the disease outbreaks that can fuel, the Mon State government is in search of land for specially designated breeding zones, according to officials.
State government representatives told the hluttaw this week that they have been scouring every township in search of plots that can be designated livestock breeding zones. The government hopes to institute such zones in every township.
The challenge, according to U Tun Htay, state Minister of Agriculture, Livestock and Transportation, is that livestock breeding zones need to be relatively far from residential communities.
“We are cooperating with the Department of Agricultural Land Management and Statistics as well as other relevant departments to search for land in all townships … to establish livestock breeding zones under the direction of the state chief minister,” U Tun Htay said on September 20 in response to an MP’s question.
Daw Myat Theingi Maw, representing Mudon township 1, had asked whether the state has any plans to establish a livestock breeding zone in her constituency.
Mon State Chief Minister U Aye Zan said his government is on the lookout for at least seven to ten acres of state-owned land where livestock breeding zones can be established. But he added that they are having difficulty in some townships.
“We can’t find land in Ye, Thanbyuzayat and Mudon townships at the moment. We will establish [the livestock breeding zones] first in the townships where we can obtain the land,” he said, adding that the rest would follow.
The chief minister said that after the livestock breeding zones are established and opened to farmers, the government will take action against those who continue to breed farm animals in their backyards.
