Location: Chin State is located in the west of Myanmar Naing-Ngan. It lies between North Latitude 21°0'and 24°15'and East Longitude between 93°15' and 94°0'. India is to its north and west; Rakhine State, to its south; Sagaing and Magway Division are to its east. It has an area of 13,907 sq miles.
Climate: Chin State has a mild hot, wet climate. April and May are the hottest months of the year. Average temperatures of the months range from 60°F (15.5 Degrees Centigrade) to 70°F (21 Degrees Centigrade). Average temperature in the cold season is below 40°F (4.4 Degrees Centigrade). In the cold season, temperatures fall as low as freezing point of water in the higher parts of towns like Haka, Foshaik and Kanpetlet.
Average annual rainfall is 80-100 inches. The southern part of Chin State gets more rain due to the storms that come from Bay of Begal.
Inhabitants, religions and languages: The population of Chin State is 465,361. Population density is 32 persons per square mile. A large majority of the people are Chins. Mros (Mago), Khamis and Bamars form significant parts in southern and western parts of Chin State. Majority of the people are Christians. There are Buddhists too. Because Chin State is hilly and acess is difficult, there is a slight difference in languages spoken in one region and another.
Organization of districts, townships and village-tracts: There are 505 wards/village-tracts, nine townships and two districts-Mindat and Falam in Chin State. Haka is the capital of Chin State.
Forests and natural plants: There are over 400,000 acres of forest reserve; 600,000 acres of reserve and 1.3 million acres of protected reserves. Pine trees grow especially in areas with an altitude of more than 3,000 feet. Taungzalat or tree rhododendron grows in areas of higher altitudes. Tree rhododendron and orchids beautify the Chin State. There are also many kinds of orchids which grow naturally.
There are over 400,000 acres of forest reserve; 600,000 acres of reserve and 1.3 million acres of protected reserves. Pine trees grow especially in areas with an altitude of more than 3,000 feet. Taungzalat or tree rhododendron grows in areas of higher altitudes. Tree rhododendron and orchids beautify the Chin State. There are also many kinds of orchids which grow naturally.
Sown acreage and agricultural produce: Shifting cultivation is the most widely used practice. Of the total 240,000 cultivated acreage, about 200.000 acres is under shifting cultivation. About 1(),000 acres put under monsoon paddy. Paddy is the major crop being grown in Chin State. Monsoon paddy is also grown through terrace farming on over 20,000 acres. Paddy is also grown by means of hill side cultivation on over 70.000 acres. Paddy is the main crop grown on farmlands at lower altitudes while millet is the major crop in areas of higher altitudes. Other crops and plants grown are maize, beans and pulses, potatoes, sunflower, cotton. sugarcane, tobacco, coffee, mulberry, various kinds of vegetables, banana and fruits such as orange and apple. But few of them can be grown commercially yet due to difficult of access to the market.
Other products: Cattle are raised on a manageable scale. Goats and pigs and chickens are raised for family consumption. Nanauk (Mythuns) are raised but they are tended in the wild. There are a few places in Falam where fish is cultured.
There is a backstrap loom for domestic use at almost every household. Turpentine and resin are produced at factories near the towns of Falam and Haka.
Traditional cultural and social festivals: There are quite a few traditional festivals among Chin nationals. Most well-known among them are Harvest Festival called Hla-ma-ka, House-warming Festival called Ein-Ka, Festival called Yu-hlak, New Year Festival called Khwar-do and Khwang-Kywe Festival. Chin State Day falls on 20 February.
Reh Lake, Chin State
TV retransmission and microwave stations: TV Myanmar programmes can be received in nine townships of Chin State because there are retransmission stations in seven townships, namely, Tiddim, Haka, Falam, Mindat, Tunzan, Paletwa and Matupi.
Construction activities: Electricity is produced through mini-hydroelectric power stations. There is Nga-hsit-ba hydel station in Falam Township, Za-lwi station in Tiddim Township, Mindat station in Mindat Township and Twi-Zawng station in Tunzan Township. There are Dawng-va and Liva hydel stations in Haka Township.
No comments:
Post a Comment