The Shan Plateau in eastern Myanmar is an extensive, mountainous upland ranging from 1000 to 2300 m in height. The area is undulating; areas that have been stripped of their natural forest are subject to severe erosion. The area covers the watersheds of four of Myanmar?s most important reservoirs: Kinda, Inle, Paung Laung and Zawgyi. Erosion from the uplands threatens to clog these reservoirs with silt, endangering much of the country?s hydropower production and irrigation water supplies for the lowlands. The main staple crop is rice, but many other crops are also grown, including wheat, maize, chili, cotton, potatoes, groundnuts, sesame, pulses, tea, tobacco and cabbages. The rainy season lasts from mid-April to mid- November. Farmers in Shan State face numerous problems. The soils are generally infertile, and crop and livestock yields are low. The area?s isolation and lack of infrastructure make it difficult for farmers to sell any surplus produce at a profit. Landholdings are small, and population growth forces farmers to overexploit the natural resources: cutting more trees for fuelwood and clearing land on steep slopes for cultivation. This environmental degradation further reduces yields, reinforcing a vicious cycle of poverty.