New Delhi - Coming to the aid of farmers in cyclone-hit regions to help them in planting paddy and to rebuild their lives, the United Nations Development Programme has begun providing cash grants of up to 200,000 kyat (USD 170).
 
"UNDP is giving cash grants as part of its community works programme to farmers to hire casual labour to plant their crops," Nick Keyes, communication advisor of UNDP Burma said.
 
He said, come harvest time, the farmer is expected to repay this amount "either in cash or in rice" to a community rice bank or to a village committee set up with the help of the agency to facilitate recovery efforts.
 
"The farmer is not expected to repay the amount to UNDP, and there is no interest charged at any time," said Keyes.
 
Keyes added that the UNDP has been engaged in granting money and helping in other community works including rebuilding infrastructure such as schools, water tanks, paths, jetties, in at least 250 communities in five townships of the cyclone affected areas of Laputta, Bogale, Mawlamyinegyun, Kyaiklat and Ngapudaw.
 
According to the UN Food and Agriculture Organization, Cyclone Nargis that lashed Burma in early May left at least 100,000 households  in Burma's Irrawaddy delta landless and over 50,000 farmers needing help to be able to cultivate during the monsoon.
 
However, a volunteer in Bogale Township said the aid from UNDP or any other agencies are not enough with many farmers still left without any support.
 
"My brothers, sisters and relatives are farmers but none of them got any support from any organization or from the government," the volunteer added.
 
He said though he saw several power tillers at Bogale donated by the UNDP, his relatives and several farmers did not receive any of them.
 
"I don't know to which areas and to which farmers these grants [money] or power tillers go," the volunteer said.
 
Several farmers from nearly 100 villages in the northeastern, western and Eastern regions of Bogale Township said they face shortage of paddy seeds, the volunteer, who recently visited nearly 80 villages said.
 
Despite the UNDP's monetary grant, he added, several farmers will not have anything to harvest as they lack assistance to grow rice and many farmers who planted, had to contend with failed crops.
 
A volunteer in Bogale town, who recently visited nearly 80 villages said, farmers complained that many of the paddy seeds failed to yield though they are not sure why.
 
"I am sure less then 50 per cent of the paddy fields will be ready for harvest this year," the volunteer said.
 
A Christian pastor from Rangoon, who has just returned from a visit to Bogale and Laputta townships, said though most of the victims have received aid, the amount is no where near sustainable for victims.
 
"It will not be right to say victims did not receive any aid, but it is also difficult to say they have received much because the amount they got is too little," the pastor said.
 
He added that many of them just received a few kilograms of rice and other material, which according to him will sustain them for only a few days.
 
"I could understand when they [victims] said they have not received any aid, because even if they have got it, the amount they received is too little to sustain them," the pastor added.