YANGON- Under sponsorship of Livelihoods and Food Security Trust Fund (LIFT), International Water Management Institute (IWMI) and its alliances: WHH, UNOPS, NEPS and ICRISAT implemented Pyawt Ywar Irrigation Project Rehabilitation in Myinmu Township, Sagaing Region.
The officials explained about the processes of the project at the Gabarmyint Hall in Myinmu Township on March 25th.
The Pyawt Ywar Pump Irrigation project had been implemented since December of 2016 to April, 2019 , aiming to improve overall scheme performance and livelihood of farmers.
“The project aims to become the water pumping project led by the farmers using the Water Utilization Management System. Actually, we carried out the irrigation system in participation with the farmers,” said Nyan Thi Ha, Community Engagement Specialist from IWIM.
The UNOPS carried out the renovation of basic infrastructures situated in the compound of Pyawt Ywar River Pumping Station as well as IWMI and National Engineering and Planning Services-NEPS implemented the improving scheme operation to ensure stronger community involvement.
Likewise, German NGO Welthungerhilfe-WHH and India-based International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) conducted improving water use through best agricultural practices and gave introduction of the high-value crops.
Moreover, the new office of Five-village Mingalar Water Users Association forming with 18 water user group was opened at the No.2 Pyawt Ywar River Pumping Station.
One water user association was established to oversee three pumping station coordination committees and manage a total of 18 water user groups which is encompassing 53 sub-groups.
A total of 970 farmers with a total of 3,068 acres are currently members of sub-and water user groups.
The subgroups have rehabilitated 112 water courses. 65 farmers have grown 50 acres of newly introduced high-value crops and 779 farmers received training on best practices for managing rice, pulses, vegetables and fruit trees.
The five village-tracts in Myinmu Township can rely on the Pyawt Ywar River Pumping Project which can irrigate over 4,300 acres of crops including paddy. At present, over 3,000 acres of farmlands are being irrigated.
The Pyawt Ywar Pump Irrigation Project is one of more than 300 such projects (PIPs) implemented by the Government of Myanmar as part of its strategy to increase agricultural production. The scheme draws water from Mu River to irrigate various crops, including paddy, pulses and wheat. The scheme has a nominal command area of 5,000 acres (1,300 acres of paddy and 3,700 acres of other crops), but the actual area irrigated has consistently been much lower (1,538 acres in 2013-14 and 950 acres in 2014-15.
