¡¡¡¡YANGON, June 23 (Xinhuanet) -- The installation of equipment for Myanmar's largest Agricultural Machinery Factory under Chinese aidwas started Sunday.

¡¡¡¡Myanmar Minister of Agriculture and Irrigation Major-General Nyunt Tin said at the ceremony that Myanmar is an agricultural country and the factory will enhance its agricultural mechanization.

¡¡¡¡He stressed that this factory will become an important landmarksignifying the cooperation and friendship between Myanmar and China.

¡¡¡¡The building of the factory was with a long-tern interest-free loan from the Chinese government. Its total investment will amountto 144.88 million Chinese Yuan Renminbi (about 17.5 million U.S. dollars).

¡¡¡¡The factory in Mandalay's Kyaukse township occupies a land areaof 71,620 square meters and a building area of 25,753 square meters.

¡¡¡¡The factory is to be completed in one and a half year. On completion, it will produce annually 10,000 sets of Gongnong-type 16-horse-power walking tractor and 5,000 sets of reaper.

¡¡¡¡Myanmar has a low degree of agricultural mechanization and the mechanized farming area accounts for only 23.34 percent of its total cultivation area. Enditem

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