Chin State |
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.
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.
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Prepared by THAN TUN WIN, Embassy of
the Union of