Heavy flooding destroys 9,500 acres of rice in eastern Burma

Record monsoon rains in eastern Burma destroyed thousands of acres of rice cultivated by villagers and there are no sign the rains are likely to ease any time soon.

Farmers hit hard by the heavy rains confirmed to Karen News that a total of 9,500 acres of farms in Kawkareik and Kyain Seikgyi townships are completely swamped and destroy by the latest flooding.

A farmer said.

“All of our paddy fields are completely swamped. The water level is still high and has not dropped yet.”

Farmers said that since July 22, the rains and the flooding have prevented them from attending to their farms and that a result of the destroyed rice crop will result in a food crisis next year.

“Paddy [rice] can only survive for about 10 days under water and will be destroyed if swamped – our paddy is damaged beyond saving even if the floodwaters drop now.”

The Monsoon season in Burma normally runs from late April to early October. Floods and landslides are common at this time and the severe weather conditions include cyclones.

Earlier this month the Karen State Chief Minister, U Zaw Min, said that as many as 6,000 people have been left homeless after severe flooding in Hpa-an Town

Hpa-an Town residents say the flood warning levels in the Salween River, had been rising since the end of July and had started to flood and swamp nearby houses. Other areas in Karen state also affected by flooding are – Hlaingbwe, Kama Maung, Shwe Gone and Kyain Seikgyi Township.In recent weeks flooding has occurred in the Irrawaddy, Pegu, Tenasserim and Rangoon areas and in Karen, Mon and Arakan states.