March 21, 2012

The government of India will give US$10 million in assistance for the agriculture industry of Myanmar, its embassy in Yangon said last week.

Altogether 300 tractors, 150 combine harvesters, 288 power tillers and 775 implements have been provided. These are being distributed to farmers in various regions and states as per the priorities of the Myanmar government.

The statement said agriculture was a "priority area" of the Indian government's assistance program to Myanmar.

"Apart from the supply of this machinery and implements, support is being extended by way of education and training in the agricultural as well as livestock and fisheries sector. Setting up of 10 disaster-proof rice silos in the cyclone-prone delta region was also undertaken [with] Indian assistance of US$2 million in 2011," it said.

The equipment was handed over to the Myanmar government at a March 9 ceremony in Yangon attended by Indian Foreign Secretary Ranjan Mathai, Minister for Industry U Soe Thein and other senior officials from both sides.