The Burmese military regime has ordered the Myanmar Rice Wholesalers Association (MRWA) in Mon State to buy 100,000 baskets of paddy seeds for replanting in Cyclone Nargis hit areas of Irrawaddy division, a source closed to the association said.

Senior officials in Rangoon have taken the responsibility for transportation and the MRWA was ordered to buy from three townships where good quality seeds are available --Mudon, Paung, and Chaung-zone.

According to a MRWA member in Mon State, they have already bought about 30,000 baskets. Purchase has stopped now because not enough money has been made available by the regime.

The association spent 670,000 Kyat per 100 baskets and paid farmers the current price. It bought paddy from May 20 till the end of June.

A MRWA member said they will loan the seeds to farmers in cyclone hit areas with a contract of paying back.

According to a donor in Rangoon who went to cyclone affected area, the survivors have to buy it for about 190 Kyat per Pyi (Burmese measurement) in eight condensed milk containers.

But some areas have to pay back the amount after getting from the government after they harvest their grain.

The Burmese government bought not only paddy seeds in Mon State but also cows to send to Irrawaddy delta. Due to the government purchase the price went up from 590,000 Kyat to 670,000 Kyat.

But the donor said only two buffalos were given to the farmers to plough their paddy fields in Kan path village in Ngaputaw Township.

The New Light of Myanmar reported that the Minister for Agricultural and Irrigation is cooperating with the Korea Rural Community and Irrigation Cooperation (KRC) for replanting in the agricultural season in Cyclone Nargis hit areas.