The Burmese military junta has ordered planting of paddy in the summer season in Kalemyo and Tamu Township, in the western part of Myanmar, Sagain Division instead of cash crops which fetch farmers a far better deal, sources said.

Farmers are being forced to cultivate rice because Cyclone Nargis in May destroyed lots of rice cultivation areas in Irrawady delta. This is likely to affect the government's ensuing budget, so the farmers are being forced to produce as much rice as possible in summer, said a farmer in Kalemyo.  

Usually the farmers plant sunflower, peanuts, onions, garlic, and cauliflower after they finish harvesting paddy in their field. They earn a good income from such cultivation.  

The farmers in Kalemyo as such are annoyed because they are being ordered to plant rice at a time when it is unusual when they sow vegetable seeds for some enhanced income, he added.   

"We are really annoyed and upset because we can produce summer rice to the tune of 30 tins from one acre and therefore it is not comparable to the rainy season. If we plan other vegetables we can earn Kyat 2 lakhs per acre," he said.  

It is learnt that the total summer rice plantation area is about one lakh acre in Kalemyo and Tamu townships. Nevertheless, it is very rare cultivating rice in summer.

In previous years, one-acre of onion and garlic plantation could produce almost 25,000 kgs. The market price of onion is Kyat 500 per kg and garlic is Kyat 700 per Kg. Other vegetables – sunflower, peanut and cauliflower are in high demand in the markets.