| S T A T E & D I V I S I O N
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| AYEYAWADY DIVISION |
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Location: Ayeyawady Division lies at the
southern end of the central plains of Myanmar. In the north of it is Bago
Division and in the east are Bago and Yangon Divisions. On the southern and
western sides of the division are Andaman Sea and Bay of Bengal. It is
contiguous with the Rakhine State in the north-west. The Division lies between
north latitude 15° 40' and 18° 30' approximately, and between east longitude
94° 15' and 96° 15' . It is mostly a delta region and has an area of 13,566
sq.miles. |
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The southern part of Ayeyawady Division has a monsoon
climate of the tropical region and the northern part having decreased rainfall
has Savannah climate of the tropical region. The hottest months are April and
May while the coldest are December and January. The average temperature in
April in southern towns is 85° F (29.4° C) approximately and it is more in
northern towns. The day temperature in the same month in the southern towns is
about 100° F (37.8° C) and the northern towns are hotter. The average
temperature of January is 75° F (23.9° C) in the southern part and the northern
part is cooler. The rainy season lasts from middle of May to October. The
rainfall becomes less from south to north. The annual rainfall of Pathein is
about 120 inches while it is about 95 inches in Hinthada.
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Population, inhabitants, religion and dialect: In
Ayeyawady division, Bamar and Kayin nationals form the majority of the
population. Few Rakhine nationals can be found in western coastal region. The
majority of the people profess Buddhism and there are also many Christians and
those who profess Islam. Myanmar is the common language. The population of the
division is 6,663,000. |
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Organization of districts, towns and villages: The
Ayeyawady Division is made up of five districts namely Pathein, Hinthada,
Myaungmya, Maubin and Pyapon. The division has been constituted with 26
townships, wards and village-tracts. The area of the division is 13,567 sq.
miles. The estimated population is over 6.5 million. It is the most populous
among states and divisions. The average population density per sq. mile is 466
persons. Pathein is the principal city of the division. |
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Forest and natural vegetation: There are evergreen
forests on Rakhine Yomas. Deciduous forests can be found in the northern part
of the division. Near the rivers and streams in upper part of the delta region,
there grow forests. Mangrove forests grow along tidal rivers and creeks. In
some places along the sea coast, sand-bank forests can be seen. As many places
have been turned into agricultural land, there remain not much natural
vegetations. |
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In Ayeyawady Division, there are 1.8 million acres of
reserved forests and about five million acres of forests outside them. Wood
such as Pyinkadoe, Taw, Thayet, Taung Thayer, Binga, Pyinma and Htaukkyant can
be extracted from Rakhine Yoma forests. Mangrove forests produce hmyaw-wood
used in construction and fishery works. Spring forests produce Anan and Yon
wood to be used in building of houses and farm implements. Firewood and
charcoal are mostly produced from mangrove forests. |
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Sown acreage and crops produced: In Ayeyawady
Division, over 3.6 million acres out of more than four million acres of
agricultural lands, are paddy fields. The acreage of alluvial and garden lands
is 0.2 million each. The total acreage of farmlands is over twenty-thousand and
that of the hill-side cultivation is over five hundred. Farmlands can be seen
in the northern part of the division, and hill-side cultivation is found on
Rakhine Yomas. There is 0.6 million acres of double cropping. In dry season,
double cropping is carried out by irrigation. There is altogether about
thirty-three thousand acres of irrigated farmlands. |
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The principal crop of Ayeyawady Division is paddy. The
division is called the biggest granary of Myanmar. In addition to paddy, other
prominent crops are maize, sesame, groundnut, sunflower, beans and pulses and
jute. Other crops are chilli, onion and spices, tobacco, betel leaf, betel nut,
coconut, banana, mango, nipa-palm, tapioca, vegetables, etc. |
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Other products: Fishery business is important
in the Ayeyawady Division. Accordingly, the division produces fish, prawn, fish
- paste, dry fish, dry prawn, and fish sauce. Saltern works are being carried
out in Ngaputaw and Labutta townships. Prominent handicrafts are Pathein
parasol making, Halawa sweetmeats works, pottery and weaving. Some ocean-going
ships can berth at Pathein port. Paddy, timber and cement are exported through
the port. |
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Interesting, historic and geographically significant
places: Chaungtha Beach Resort, Ngwesaung Beach and Hainggyi Island are
significant. Inyegyi Lake is also popular for its beauty and pleasantness.
Fresh-water and deep-sea fishery works are being broadly carried out at the
lake. |
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Culture and traditional festivals: As the majority
inhabitants of the division are Bamar nationals, Myanmar traditional and
cultural festivals and pagoda festivals are usually held. Pathein Mawtinsoon
Pagoda Festival is prominent and popular. Moreover, Zalun Pyidawbyan pagoda
festival is always crowded with devotees. |
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Radio/ TV retransmission and microwave stations: The
Kyaunggon retransmission station was opened on 12-2-85. In consequence, people
living in 12 townships in the division can be accessible to the television.
Another retransmission station was opened at Labutta on 16-7-97. Similarly,
Bogalay retransmission station was opened on 17-7-97 and people from Bogalay,
Pyapon and Mawlamyinegyun townships have TV at present. Altogether four
retransmission stations are in operation. |
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