YANGON, Dec. 23 (Xinhua) -- Myanmar held an agricultural machinery exhibition in the capital Nay Pyi Taw on Monday, the state-owned daily The Global New Light of Myanmar reported on Tuesday.
Speaking at the event, Union Minister for Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation U Min Naung said that approximately 70 percent of Myanmar's population lives in rural areas and is engaged in agricultural activities, the report said.
The minister said the state is prioritizing efforts to achieve target crop yields, enhance cropping intensity, ensure the correct application of seeds, soil, water and technology, systematically improve soil fertility, manage irrigation water efficiently, and develop post-harvest technologies.
More than 300 types of machinery are on display at the exhibition from Monday to Wednesday, including large tractors, trailers, rice transplanters, seeders, weeders, sprayers, and combine harvesters. The machinery is displayed at 30 booths operated by 22 companies, the report said.
As of the end of November, farmers owned 43,939 tractors, 462,627 power tillers, 158 rice transplanters, 610 manual rice transplanters, 37,467 hand-held seeders, 13,211 combine harvesters, and 2,110 rice dryers, according to statistics, it added. ■
