The Sinthay Dam, which was damaged by a powerful earthquake, has been repaired and is now supplying irrigation water for summer paddy and other summer crops, according to reports.

On February 17, Deputy Minister U Bo Bo Kyaw from the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation, accompanied by officials, inspected the irrigation conditions of summer paddy and summer crops using water from the left and right canal systems of the Sinthay Dam in Tatkon Township.

They also inspected irrigation distribution, land preparation, and crop growth conditions at irrigated farmlands in the Yay Aye field system, summer paddy fields in Nyaung Tone Inn Village, the Pe Taw field system, and summer crop plantations in Kyae Chaung Village within the township.

During meetings with local farmers in the villages, the deputy minister said that during last year’s summer irrigation season, the major Mandalay earthquake had damaged the Sinthay diversion dam and irrigation systems, making water distribution difficult under temporary arrangements. He added that the irrigation systems have now been repaired and urged farmers to use water efficiently and systematically to minimize losses and ensure effective utilization.

He also encouraged efforts to enable triple-cropping based on seasonal water availability, regular maintenance of irrigation and drainage systems, and cooperation between farmers and relevant departments through Water User Groups (WUGs) to maintain field canals in good condition. He stressed strengthening input systems to ensure access to quality seeds, testing soil in irrigated areas where monsoon and summer paddy are grown annually to prevent nutrient depletion and declining soil quality, and promoting crop patterns and cultivation techniques suited to local water, soil, and climate conditions through coordinated field education by relevant departments and agricultural coordination teams.

Afterward, the deputy minister inspected the drilling of a No. 1 mechanized tube well—10 inches in diameter and 300 feet deep—near Kinmon Tan Village in Tatkon Township, where officials provided updates on the project.

In response to the briefing, he instructed that tube wells should be systematically drilled based on local groundwater conditions, groundwater recharge should be continuously monitored and assessed, and other operational needs should be addressed. He also met with local farmers to coordinate solutions for their difficulties and requirements.