Aug 12, 2008 (DVB), The Human Rights Defenders and Promoters network is planning to hire out its services to assist farmers and use the proceeds to fund local education and health facilities.

U Maung Maung Lay, an HRDP network member, said the group was planning to help farmers with the winter crop.

"We will start our work for the winter crop within the next month and a half, but before that we will have to move our tillers first to the new locations," he said.

"But this time it won’t be like after Nargis anymore , we will charge farmers for each acre of farmland we help to cultivate at reasonable rates."

Maung Maung Lay said HRDP did not stand to benefit financially from the arrangement, but would channel the funds back into development work.

"Then after we have finished the work, we will pay for labour and fuel from that money, and we will use the rest to build a school or a clinic in the region," he said.

"The HRDP will not take a penny of that money."

The HRDP previously provided assistance to local farmers in Bogalay, Labutta, Ngaputaw, Thingangon, Kanyingu and Mawkyun villages, helping to cultivate nearly 500 acres of farmlands with three tillers.

Reporting by Aye Nai