THE Pyu Creek Dam, which contributes to the agricultural and livestock sectors in Bago Region, will supply irrigation water through its two main canals for 17,389 acres of summer paddy, and an additional 800 acres to be cultivated in the coming summer paddy season, according to the irrigation system construction project under the Pyu Creek Dam Project.
“This year, more than 15 feet of water is still needed for the dam to reach full capacity. In addition to generating hydropower on a daily basis, the dam is also supplying irrigation water for summer paddy cultivation. We have learned that an additional 800 acres will be cultivated in the coming summer paddy season beyond the normal cultivated acreage, so preparations have been made to supply irrigation water to the additional acreage.
As the expansion of summer paddy cultivation in the region increases year by year, the ability to supply irrigation water will certainly contribute to the socioeconomic development of farmers,” said U Talanga, assistant director of the project. Irrigation water from the Pyu Creek Dam will be supplied to summer paddy fields through the right and left main canals from January until water is no longer required in May. During the summer paddy season, Sinthukha, 90-day, Hnankauk, Yadanatoe, Vietnam, Yezin Pawsan-1, and Aungnaingtoe varieties will be cultivated.
During last year’s summer paddy season, the Cooperative Department successfully conducted a trial cultivation of 100 acres of Shwebo Paw San at the Nyaungbintha cultivation area in Bago Region. Irrigation water from the Pyu Creek Dam will continue to be supplied for the cultivation of this variety.
For the water supply, irrigation water for 50 acres will be provided through the left main canal, which has a capacity to supply water to 18,000 acres, while the right main canal will supply irrigation water in accordance with the planned cultivated acreage. The dam stores and regulates water flowing from the middle Yoma. It receives an average annual inflow of 668,000 acrefeet of water and has a storage capacity of 632,530 acre-feet. It is an embankment-type reservoir with a catchment area of 422 square miles.
The dam is 1,020 feet long and 245 feet high, and the area receives an average annual rainfall of 100 inches. In addition to supplying irrigation water for summer paddy cultivation, the Pyu Creek Dam generates hydropower daily and provides significant support to the agricultural and livestock sectors in Pyu and Oktwin townships.
Nyein Thu (MNA)/KTZH
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