WATER for the 73,803 acres of summer paddy and other summer crops planned for the water intake area of the Sedawgyi Dam in 2025–2026 financial year has been fully stored in the dam and is now being supplied to farmers for cultivation, according to the Mandalay Region Irrigation and Water Utilization Management Department.
U Myo Min Thant, Assistant Director of the Mandalay Region Irrigation and Water Utilization Management Department, said that four townships within the catchment area of the Sedawgyi dam are being supplied with water for the cultivation of summer paddy and other summer crops. Since the third week of February, water has been supplied to the 73,803 acres planned for planting, and so far, 5,466 acres of summer paddy have been planted.
“The dam is providing abundant water to farmers planting summer paddy and other summer crops. To ensure that they have a reliable water supply for cultivation this season, we have posted signboards along canals in Patheingyi, Madaya, and Amarapura townships from the third week of this month, informing farmers that water from the dam will be available until summer paddy planting is complete. To date, a total of 5,466 acres of paddy have been planted in Madaya and Patheingyi townships. The Department of Irrigation and Water Utilization Management is carrying out timely canal repairs and cleaning to support continued planting and achieve the target acreage,” he said.
The acreages of summer paddy and other summer crops within the irrigated area of the dam are 44,904 acres of summer paddy and 295 acres of summer sesame in Madaya Township; 19,029 acres of summer paddy and 239 acres of summer sesame in Patheingyi Township; 6,178 acres of summer paddy and 3,114 acres of summer sesame in Amarapura Township; and 44 acres of summer paddy in Pyigyidagun Township, totalling 73,803 acres of summer paddy and other summer crops. Today, the dam’s water level is RL-418.3 feet, with a storage capacity of 353,820 acre-feet and a usable water capacity of 326,720 acre-feet. — Min Htet Aung (Mdy Sub-printing House)/TH
