PEANUT and sesame fields have dried up due to the lack of rainfall between the third week of June and second week of July, even though there was rainfall in the last week of May in Ngathayauk Township, NyaungU District, Mandalay Region.
NyaungU and Ngathayauk townships plant oil crops that primarily rely on the rainy season. If there is erratic weather during the rainy season, the oil crops are drastically affected, said U Chan Myae Aung.
It has been about two years in which the climate has remained irregular, and most farmers do not dare to cultivate their crops. Therefore, empty fields are increasing year after year. The Ngathayauk and NyaungU townships depend on peanut and sesame cultivations, and some growers cannot cultivate due to the high prices of seeds. Previously, the pigeon pea cultivations were grown in NyaungU District, but now the pigeon pea cultivations are rare, said U Than Htike, Administrator of Kalarte village.
If there will be no rainfall in the coming five days, farmers will lose their oil crops for this season, according to U Than Htike. —Ko Htain (Ngathayauk) (Translated by La Womon)
