Dr.

Myo Kywe
(Rector, Yezin Agricultural University)
Dr. Kyi Toe
(Associate Professor, Yezin Agricultural University)
1
 Location
 Between Latitude 9˚32' and 28˚ 31' N
Longitude 92˚ 10' and 101˚ 1' E
 Sharing borders with Bangladesh,
India, China, Laos and Thailand
 Area is about 676, 577 sq km
 Extended about 2361 km from north to
south
 About 1078 km from east to west
2
 Population
 51.702 million (2015)
 Male 24.936 million
 Female 26.766 million
 1.01% annual growth rate
 population density 76/ square kilometer
Climate
 Tropical
 Sub-tropical
 Temperate

Season
 Winter
 Summer
 Raining
3
 Agriculture Sector in Myanmar

* Source: Myanmar Agriculture in Brief 2015

 Myanmar Economy and Agriculture

Myanmar is an agricultural country, and agriculture sector is

the backbone of its economy. Agriculture sector contributes
22.1 % (2014-1015) of GDP, 20% of total export earnings;
and employs 61.2 % of the labor force.
Government has laid down the four economic policies of
which one of the major economic objective is “Building the
modern industrialized nation through the agricultural
development, and all-round development of other sectors of
the economy”.

5
 AGRICULTURAL POLICIES

To emphasize production and utilization of high yielding

and good quality seeds
To conduct training and education activities for farmer and
extension staff to provide advanced agricultural techniques
To implement research and development activities for
sustainable agricultural development
To encourage transformation from conventional to
mechanized agriculture, production of crops appropriated
with climate and extension of irrigated area
To amend existing agricultural laws and regulations in line
with current situation.
 Objective of Agriculture Sector

Priority to fulfill the needs of local consumption

Export the surplus of agriculture products to earn foreign
exchange
Assistance to rural development through agricultural
development

“Promotion of Productivity in Agriculture”

Current Food Crop Production and Food Security in Myanmar

Rice is the main staple food of Myanmar, therefore, rice crop

occupied 7.28 million hectare and it covers 34.1% of total
cultivated area (21.4 million hectare).
Oilseed crop and pulses crops successively occupy the next
largest area planted.
Rice production has been increasing (60% during 1996-1997
and 2013-2014).
Rice production is self-sufficient for its population and
surplus has been exported.
In terms of rice security, it has reached 120% currently in
Myanmar.
Myanmar is standing as a leading producer and exporter for
pulses among ASEAN countries.
Pulses have occupied over 21% of the total crop cultivated.
Pulses security raised up to 549%.
8
Area Contribution of Crop Groups
Sown
Sr. Sown Area Production
Crops area
No. ( 000 ha) (000 mt)
%
1. Cereal Crops 9600 34355 38
2. Oil Seed Crops 3950 3379 16
3. Pulses 4700 5409 19
4. Industrial crops 1300 10094 5
5. Culinary crops 355 2043 1
6. Other crops 5126 21
Total 25031 100

Cropping Intensity
 The Government is rendering concerted efforts
 to increase the production
 to expand agricultural land
 to improve yields and
 to increase cropping intensity
 Cropping intensity has increased from 119.16 %
in 1988-89 to 180% in 2013-2014 9
 AGRICULTURAL LAND

One forth of total area is culturable land in Myanmar.

Presently, there are about 11.95 million hectares of net sown
area in Myanmar.
For the expansion of new agricultural land, remaining 0.447
million hectares of fellow land and 5.26 million hectares of
culturable waste land, can be developed.

Land Type Mil Ha Percent

Net Sown Area 11.95 17.7
Fellow Land 0.44 0.7
Cultural able Waste Land 5.26 7.8
Reserved Forests 18.62 27.5
Other Forests 14.73 21.8
Other 16.65 24.6
Total 67.66 100
* Source: Myanmar Agriculture in Brief 2015 10
 National companies and associations in private sector are
encouraged and granted rights to develop virgin land and
fallow lands for the cultivation of paddy, pulses, oil crops,
industrial crops, rubber, oil palm, and other crops.
At present, 381 private companies have been granted 0.96
million hectares for commercial farming.
Modern upland farm reclamation project is being
undertaken to meet the following objectives :
- Replacing slash and burn method with terrace farming,
- Enabling the people in hilly regions to live in permanent
settlements,
- Eliminating cultivation of opium poppy through terrace
farming to improve the living standard of the people in
hilly regions, and
- Preserving and protecting natural environment.
11
 Land Reclamation for Terrace Farming in
Upland Area (March, 2015)

Region Govt. Farmers Total (hectare)

Shan (North) 3270 1538 4808

Shan (East) 1296 1249 2544
Shan (South) 1930 1159 3089
Chin 1285 1767 3052

Total 7780 5713 13493

12
Soil Map of Myanmar
 R3

R3
R4

R4

R4
R3
R5
R4 R5

R3

R3
Availability of Surface Water and Ground Water for
Irrigation Purpose
By March 2014, 240 dams, 327 river pumping stations and 12558
groundwater irrigation projects have been completed.
Since 2003, being an irrigated agriculture as the single most
important, the irrigation area grew substantially, from 1.02 million
ha in 1988 (12.6% of the net sown area) to 2.17 million ha in 2014-
2015 (16.2% of the net sown area), in particular due to the
expansion of river pumping and the construction of dams.
The storage capacity increased from 2.33 km3 in 1988 to 18 km3 in
2010.
As a result, the cropping intensity rate from 140% in 1995 to
160.3% in 2013-2014.
More than 75% of the total irrigated area is sown to rice, but
vegetables, pulses and sesame are also grown under irrigation.
Currently, river pumping covers 38.1% of the irrigated area while
dam and river diversion covers 29.2% of this area.
15
 Irrigated Area (Dam and Water Pumping)
Year Net Sown Area Irrigated Area Per cent
(mil Ha) (mil Ha)

2001-2002 10.65 1.99 18.6

2002-2003 10.82 1.87 17.3
2003-2004 11.04 1.96 17.7
2004-2005 11.41 1.93 16.9
2005-2006 11.94 2.14 17.9
2006-2007 12.61 2.24 17.8
2007-2008 13.22 2.22 16.8
2008-2009 13.49 2.28 16.9
2009-2010 13.64 2.33 17.1
2010-2011 13.75 2.29 16.7
2011-2012 13.58 2.11 15.5
2012-2013 13.30 2.12 15.9
2013-2014 13.26 2.13 16.1
2014-2015 13.36 2.17 16.2
16
 Main Crops Production in Myanmar
No Name Crop
.
1 Cereals Paddy, wheat maize, sorghum

2 Oilseeds Groundnut, sesame, sunflower, niger, mustard

3 Pulses 17 kinds of pulses including black gram, green gram,

pigeon pea, soy bean, cowpea, kidney bean, butter bean,
chicken pea, garden pea,

4 Industrial crops Cotton, sugarcane, jute, rubber, coffee, oil-palm

5 Culinary crops Chilly, onion, garlic, ginger, tumeric, potato

6 Fruits and Mango, banana, citrus, pears, durian, mangosteen,

Vegetables pineapple, rambutan and others tropical and temperate
vegetables 17
Major Crops Production in Myanmar
 Paddy
 Maize
 Groundnut

 Sesame
 Sunflower
 Black gram

 Green gram
 Pigeon pea
 Cotton
 Sugarcane
18
 A N Fe Ma M Ju
No Cropping Pattern July Set Oct Dec Jan Apr
ust ov b r ay n

1 Rice – Pulses – Rice Monsoon Puls Summer

Rice es Rice

Monsoon Sunflo Summer

2 Rice – Sunflower – Rice Rice wer Rice

Rice – Groundnut/Maize–
3 Monsoon Groundnut Summer
Rice Rice / Maize Rice

Rice – Green Gram/ soy

4 Monsoon Green Summer
Rice Gram
beans– Rice Rice
Gre
Rice – Green Manure – Cotto Monsoon en Pre-monsoon
5 n
Ma
Cotton Rice nur Cotton
e
 Cropping System in Myanmar

 growing a pre-monsoon crop (jute, cotton, sesame) before the

main crop in rice growing area
 growing of some suitable crops (summer paddy, groundnut,
sunflower, peas and beans) after rice
 growing of two suitable crops in succession on dry land with
or without irrigation (sesame, peas and beans, maize, etc.
 mixed cropping of two crops with different life periods in the
same field (sesame and pigeon pea, groundnut and maize, etc )

20
 PADDY

Total area of paddy was 7.63 million hectares, comprising 6.45

million hectares under monsoon paddy and 1.18 million hectares
under summer paddy in 2014 – 2015.
Actual paddy sown area was 7.17 million hectares.
Average yield – 4.17 MT/ha.
Production was reached at 28.19 million metric ton.

21
 Paddy Production of Myanmar
Year Sown Area Yield Production
(mil ha) (mt/ha) (mil MT)
2001-2002 6.45 3.42 21.92
2002-2003 6.49 3.42 21.81
2003-2004 6.54 3.54 23.14
2004-2005 6.86 3.64 24.75
2005-2006 7.39 3.75 27.68
2006-2007 8.12 3.83 30.92
2007-2008 8.09 3.93 31.45
2008-2009 8.09 4.03 32.57
2009-2010 8.07 4.06 32.68
2010-2011 8.05 4.07 32.58
2011-2012 7.59 3.83 29.01
2012-2013 7.24 3.84 27.70
2013-2014 7.28 3.90 28.32
2014-2015 7.17 3.94 28.19
22
Source : Myanmar Agriculture in Brief (2015)
To generate increased production of paddy, measures are also
being undertaken in growing high yielding varieties, including
introduction of hybrid rice varieties.
According to the major tasks of the Ministry, adoption of 14
points Good Agricultural Practices in paddy cultivation and
production of qualified and good high-yield seeds have been
undertaken since 2011 paddy growing season.
Utilization of good quality seeds is vital for the increase of rice
production. Therefore, seed production of hybrid rice variety
(namely – Palethwe) was stated at 2011.
In the monsoon season of 2013-2014, 223 hectares produced
429,694 kilogram. In the summer season, 324 hectares produced
547,951 kilogram by department and private companies.
In 2014-2015, 361 hectares in monsoon and 506 hectares in
summers were planned to produce.

23
Seed Production at Nay Pyi Taw
Hybrid Seed Production in Myanmar

Hybrid Rice Seed

Production in
ShweTaung Farm
 MAIZE
Year Sown Area Yield Production
(‘000 ha) (mt/ha) (‘000 MT)

2001-2002 251 2.12 532

2002-2003 269 2.25 603
2003-2004 284 2.48 704
2004-2005 293 2.68 784
2005-2006 321 2.87 918
2006-2007 327 3.16 1032
2007-2008 346 3.32 1146
2008-2009 355 3.39 1203
2009-2010 363 3.43 1245
2010-2011 389 3.54 1376
2011-2012 412 3.61 1485
2012-2013 422 3.64 1526
2013-2014 441 3.70 1626
2014-2015 459 3.75 1721
26
Source : Myanmar Agriculture in Brief (2015)
 Maize Production in Myanmar

Monsoon maize seed production in 2013-2014, Yezin 6, CP 888

and CP 868 varieties were cultivated 15897 hectares and 21.76
million kilograms could be produced.
In 2014-2015, Myanmar maize exported 88.73 thousand metric
ton to China. (280-300 $/ton)
80% of Myanmar total maize export is being exported to China,
Singapore, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia, India, Bulgaria and
Spain.
Myanmar exported 954 thousand metric tons during 2013-2014.

27
Hybrid Corn Seed Production in Naypyitaw Area
 PULSES
Pulses were grown in Myanmar since King’s era. It was sown in
various places of the country at any cropping pattern.
Major pulses in Myanmar are soybean, chickpea, butter pea, green
gram, black gram, pigeon pea, kidney bean, cowpea, lab lab bean,
sultani and sultapya.
Presently, Myanmar is standing as a leading country in pulses
production among ASEAN member countries.
Major exportable varieties of pulses are black gram, green gram,
pigeon pea, soybean, butter bean, cowpea and kidney bean.
Cultivation of pulses, with relatively less expense in cost of
cultivation and increased demand for domestic consumption and
export, has increased substantially from 0.73 million hectares in
1988-1989 to 5.914 million hectares in 2014-2015.
Export of pulses increased from 17,000 metric tons in 1988-89 to
around 1.46 million metric tons in recent years.
29
 Production of Pulses in Myanmar
Year Sown Area Yield Production Export
(mil ha) (mt/ha) (mil MT) (000’MT)
2001-2002 3.20 0.84 2.66 1035
2002-2003 3.27 0.85 2.76 1038
2003-2004 3.39 0.91 3.10 1211
2004-2005 3.54 1.00 3.53 873
2005-2006 3.81 1.05 4.01 865
2006-2007 4.00 1.11 4.44 1156
2007-2008 4.23 1.18 4.97 1142
2008-2009 4.28 1.23 5.27 1450
2009-2010 4.38 1.25 5.49 1232
2010-2011 4.50 1.28 5.79 829
2011-2012 4.42 1.23 5.41 1296
2012-2013 4.45 1.28 5.70 1484
2013-2014 4.53 1.30 5.90 1301
2014-2015 4.55 1.32 5.99 1459
30
Source : Myanmar Agriculture in Brief (2015)
 OIL SEED CROPS

Oilseed crops also play a vital role in Myanmar due to high

consumption of cooking oil compared to other neighboring
countries.
Major oilseed crops include groundnut, sesame, sunflower,
mustard and niger.
As the amount of edible oil produced is not enouigh for local
consumption, approximate3ly 200,000 mt of palm oil are being
imported annually.
Plans are undertaken for the increase in sown area and yield per
acre.
Hybrid sunflower seed which can double the existing average
yield has been introduced in appropriate areas to replace the
existing OPV sunflower varieties throughout the country.

31
 Oilseed Crop Cultivation in Myanmar (000’Ha)
Year Groundnut Sesame Sunflower Mustard Niger

2001-2002 569 1382 498 55 91

2002-2003 581 1417 460 69 93
2003-2004 654 1448 511 64 104
2004-2005 684 1496 516 67 112
2005-2006 730 1338 690 71 129
2006-2007 756 1443 614 75 121
2007-2008 815 1508 835 92 147
2008-2009 844 1570 884 98 152
2009-2010 866 1634 883 100 156
2010-2011 877 1585 859 101 158
2011-2012 887 1595 543 72 156
2012-2013 914 1553 624 63 156
2013-2014 931 1622 481 61 155
2014-2015 949 1581 484 59 157

32
Source : Myanmar Agriculture in Brief (2015)
Hybrid Sunflower Seed Production in Naypyitaw area
 Production of Cotton in Myanmar
Year Sown Area Yield Production Lint Export
(000’ ha) (mt/ha) (000’MT) (MT)
2001-2002 295 0.53 141 262
2002-2003 302 0.54 143 -
2003-2004 292 0.57 158 -
2004-2005 306 0.65 195 -
2005-2006 332 0.71 236 -
2006-2007 354 0.76 268 -
2007-2008 368 0.84 308 -
2008-2009 367 1.23 453 -
2009-2010 359 1.46 523 -
2010-2011 351 1.57 550 -
2011-2012 326 1.64 533 -
2012-2013 278 1.68 467 -
2013-2014 299 1.70 509 -
2014-2015 304 1.75 532 -

34
Source : Myanmar Agriculture in Brief (2015)
 Sugarcane Production in Myanmar
Year Sown Area Yield Production Sugar Export
(000’ ha) (mt/ha) (000’MT) (000’MT)
2001-2002 163 45.04 7,116 49
2002-2003 148 45.17 6,429 31
2003-2004 151 47.13 6,913 19
2004-2005 146 52.36 7,310 18
2005-2006 134 55.72 7,187 1
2006-2007 149 56.57 8,168 -
2007-2008 169 59.27 9,833 -
2008-2009 165 61.20 9,901 9
2009-2010 160 61.61 9,715 58
2010-2011 152 62.64 9,398 -
2011-2012 154 63.22 9,690 -
2012-2013 154 62.26 9,564 -
2013-2014 169 61.83 10,473 -
2014-2015 181 63.41 11,307 -

35
Source : Myanmar Agriculture in Brief (2015)
 Rubber Production in Myanmar
Year Sown Area Yield Production
(000’ ha) (mt/ha) (000’MT)
2001-2002 186 0.59 37
2002-2003 185 0.59 40
2003-2004 189 0.55 40
2004-2005 203 0.57 52
2005-2006 226 0.59 64
2006-2007 295 0.60 73
2007-2008 380 0.64 89
2008-2009 428 0.65 93
2009-2010 463 0.67 112
2010-2011 504 0.69 128
2011-2012 543 0.75 150
2012-2013 581 0.77 164
2013-2014 610 0.76 177
2014-2015 641 0.77 198

36
Source : Myanmar Agriculture in Brief (2015)
 Oil Palm Production in Myanmar
Year Sown Area Yield Production
(000’ ha) (mt/ha) (000’MT)
2001-2002 29 2.60 21
2002-2003 36 3.01 24
2003-2004 46 3.05 27
2004-2005 54 2.22 22
2005-2006 67 2.46 32
2006-2007 82 2.39 49
2007-2008 93 2.47 58
2008-2009 102 2.04 59
2009-2010 112 2.13 69
2010-2011 125 2.47 93
2011-2012 134 3.09 121
2012-2013 144 3.37 134
2013-2014 148 3.28 138
2014-2015 153 2.91 127

37
Source : Myanmar Agriculture in Brief (2015)
 Coffee Production in Myanmar
Year Sown Area Yield Production
(000’ ha) (mt/ha) (000’MT)
2001-2002 9 0.50 2
2002-2003 9 0.51 3
2003-2004 11 0.53 3
2004-2005 14 0.56 4
2005-2006 18 0.57 4
2006-2007 22 0.59 5
2007-2008 23 0.66 6
2008-2009 24 0.66 6
2009-2010 24 0.67 7
2010-2011 25 0.68 7
2011-2012 25 0.69 8
2012-2013 20 0.70 8
2013-2014 20 0.71 8
2014-2015 20 0.72 8

38
Source : Myanmar Agriculture in Brief (2015)
 Tea Production in Myanmar
Year Sown Area Yield Production
(000’ ha) (mt/ha) (000’MT)
2001-2002 73 0.99 68
2002-2003 74 0.99 70
2003-2004 77 1.04 75
2004-2005 79 1.06 77
2005-2006 82 1.08 80
2006-2007 85 1.11 85
2007-2008 87 1.15 88
2008-2009 90 1.18 92
2009-2010 93 1.20 94
2010-2011 95 1.21 96
2011-2012 96 1.20 94
2012-2013 91 1.20 96
2013-2014 94 1.20 98
2014-2015 96 1.20 100
39
Source : Myanmar Agriculture in Brief (2015)
Fertilizer Usage and Myanmar Agriculture
 Myanmar has an open competitive fertilizer market
dependent on imports for over 80% of the total market
demand estimated at between 1.2 and 1.4 million product
tons per annum.
 The market is dominated by imports from China.
 Farmers use limited quantities of fertilizer and are not
aware of balanced fertilization preferring to use urea in
preference to balanced nutrient application rates.
 Also they reportedly buy on the basis of lowest price per
bag and not on price per unit of nutrient.
 Farmer and dealer training on fertilizers and plant nutrition
will greatly assist in more efficient fertilizer use by farmers.
 However, fertilizer use in Myanmar is still low by South
East Asian standards and very low by world standards.

40
 Together with improved seed, fertilizer use and adoption of
modern technology by farmers are key to raising
agricultural productivity
 The estimated market for 2014 is dominated by urea which
accounts for 61 percent of the total product, 87 percent of
the total nitrogen and 62 percent of the total nutrients.
 This reflects the dominance of fertilizer use on rice and in
part very unbalanced fertilizer applications by farmers.
Total Fertilizer Use per Farm in Mandalay Region, 2013

41
 Postharvest losses of Monsoon Rice

Yangon Bago Ayeyawaddy

No. Stage
(Hlegu Tsp) (Yedashe Tsp) (Zalun Tsp)

1. Harvesting (%) 1.4 – 2.1 1.1 – 1.8 1.2 – 1.8

2. Field Drying (%) 1.4 – 3. 3 1.7- 2.4 4.6 – 6.2

3. Threshing/Cleaning 0.4 – 1.1 0.6 – 1.6 2.6- 3.3

4. Transportation (%) 1.3 – 1.7 2.0-2.6 2.1-2.9

5. Drying (%) 0.8 - 1.5 0.1- 0.5 0.8 -1.1

6. Storage(%) 1.6 - 3.3 . - . 2.1 - 3.3

Total Losses (%) 6.9 -13.0 6.6 – 10.8 13.2 -18.6

(Source: Field Survey, 2014 Nov 10-27, Hlegu, Yadashe and Zalun Townships)
 Harvesting Losses of Monsoon Rice
By Man Power Vs Combined Harvester

No. Stage Man Power Combined Harvester

1. Harvesting (%) 1.1 - 1.8 1.4 - 2.8

2. Transportation (%) 0.6 - 0.8 -

3. Threshing/Cleaning (%) 0.6 - 1.6 -

Total Losses (%) 2.3 - 4.2 1.4 - 2.8

(Source: Field Survey, 2012 Dec 16-18, Shewtaung Farm, Wundwin Townships)
Variety - Palalthwe’ Hybrid Rice
 Postharvest Losses of Food Legumes

Stage Black gram Chickpea Pigeon pea

( Phyu Tsp) ( Chaung Oo Tsp.) ( Mahlaing)
Harvest
0.6 - 1.3 1.1. – 1.9 0.9- 1.5

Transportation
( field to threshing floor) 0.7- 0.9 0.6 – 0.7 0.4 – 0.6

Threshing/Winnowing/ 0.8 – 1.2 1.2 – 1.4 0.9- 1.1

Cleaning

Drying 0.6 – 0.9 0.3 – 0.7 0.7- 0.8

Storage 2.2 – 3.2 2.4 - 4.2 2.6 -3.8

Total Losses (%) 4.9 – 7.5 5.6 – 8.9 5.6 – 7.8

(Source: Field Surveys, 2012 Feb 18-25, Nyaung Bin Thar, Chaung Oo and Mahlaing,
Townships in Myanmar)
Utilization of Combine Harvester
 Technology Changes and
Utilization in Commercial Scale

Source: Minister report for President Visit at Nay Pyi Taw, 2011
Advantages of Dryer Utilization Under Adverse Climatic Condition
 Paddy Dryer and
Light House

Source: Chai village, DOA model farm, Nay Pyi Taw 2011-2012
 Seed Production and Processing For Quality Rice

Source: Minister report for President Visit at Shwe Taung Farm, 11 November 2012
 To Reduce Postharvest losses

• More harvesters, dryers

• Better storage facilities
• Better milling facilities
• Better Transportation System
• More Training
 Vegetable Crops Production

* Source: 12th Asis Pacific Agricultural Policy Forum 2013

 Fruits Production

* Source: 12th Asis Pacific Agricultural Policy Forum 2013

 Investment Opportunities for Agriculture in Myanmar

 Foreign investment in Myanmar’s agriculture is only at 0.44% of

total foreign investment and accounted at lowest share compared to
other sectors.
 Currently, total cultivation area of 11.84 million hectare is under
cultivation, 0.45 million hectare is fellow land and 5.23 million
hectare is cultivable virgin land.
 The following area are available for investment in Myanmar’s
agricultural sector:
-Input industries (seed, fertilizer, agrochemical, farm industry,
machineries, irrigation system and facilities);
-Production and Processing industries (crop production, value-added
production, research and development);
-Wholesales market industries;
-Services industries (credit and insurance, service support for supply
chain). 53
 Conclusion
 As Myanmar is agro-based country, MOAI is mainly
responsible for making a plan on country’s agricultural
development.
 MOAI adopted three tactics for development of rural
livelihood and poverty reduction. They are - (1) Seed Jump
(2) Technology Jump (3) Investment Jump.
 According to the current market economic system, it is also
encouraging to produce the quality and market demand
products along the supply chain in order to receive a
profitable price by farmers.
 Encourage the participation of private sector agro-based
industries including SMEs .
 Establishment of advanced rice mills in Myanmar will also be
encouraged to increase Myanmar rice quality.
 Development of agriculture sector is integral part of the
economy as the livelihood of the 70% of the total population
largely relies on agriculture.

 Agricultural development is a key element not only for country’s

food security but also increasing per capita income including
farmers’ income and country’s GDP.

 Myanmar will become a major food supplier in the region in

future.

55
THANK YOU!