Singapore’s ambassador to Myanmar, Mr Robert Chua (R), donates fertiliser to delta farmers on behalf of the government of Singapore last month. Pic: Shwe Yinn Mar Oo

FARMERS in the cyclone-hit delta region are looking at bigger-than-expected crop yields this season – thanks to donations of fertiliser from Singapore.

The Singapore embassy in Myanmar, in collaboration with local and international NGOs, has distributed 58,080 fertiliser bags starting in the most devastated areas, from Ngapudaw to Dedaye, since October 1, said the ambassador, Mr Robert Chua. Mr Chua was paying a first visit to the delta to review the results.

He said the fertiliser donation was intended to help people rebuild their livelihood after the disaster. Every farming household received one bag of fertiliser, enough for two acres of paddy.

He said 80 percent of his fields have now recovered from the saltwater damage caused by Nargis.

Another farmer from the same village told The Myanmar Times that he hoped to receive more fertiliser for winter crops.

“We usually grow watermelon, sunflower, and pulses and beans in winter but we didn’t grow summer paddy as there is not enough water supply. We, the local villagers here, mainly rely on paddy. If the harvest is not good, both landowners and employees have a problem,” he said.

There are 1044 households in the village group of Htaw Ponna, Na Gon and Gon Nyinn Tan in Ngapudaw township, of which about one-third own land. Others are employees at their land and casual workers engaged in fishing and other work.

A local NGO, Mingalar Myanmar Foundation, distributed the fertiliser bags donated by Singapore in Pyapon, Dedaye and Bogale. According to a Mingalar Foundation press release, about 20,000 bags of fertiliser were distributed in 186 villages in Pyapon, 42 villages in Dedaye and 226 villages in Bogale.

“I need about 15 bags for my 13 acres of land and I want some buffaloes for growing winter crops too,” said Ma Than Than Aye, a farmer from Kyone Ku village in Pyapon township.

She said that her land is fully recovered from the cyclone and by using the fertiliser donated by Singapore, she hoped to get 20 to 30 more baskets of paddy.