Agriculture Sector in Myanmar: an Overview

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Dr. Myo Kywe(Rector, Yezin Agricultural University)

Dr. Kyi Toe(Associate Professor, Yezin Agricultural University)

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

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3

Climate Tropical Sub-tropical Temperate

Population 51.702 million (2015) Male 24.936 million Female 26.766 million 1.01% annual growth rate population density 76/ square kilometer

Season Winter Summer Raining

* Source: Myanmar Agriculture in Brief 2015

Agriculture Sector in Myanmar

Myanmar Economy and Agriculture

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Myanmar is an agricultural country, and agriculture sector isthe backbone of its economy. Agriculture sector contributes22.1 % (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 ofwhich one of the major economic objective is “Building themodern industrialized nation through the agriculturaldevelopment, and all-round development of other sectors ofthe economy”.

To emphasize production and utilization of high yieldingand good quality seedsTo conduct training and education activities for farmer andextension staff to provide advanced agricultural techniquesTo implement research and development activities forsustainable agricultural developmentTo encourage transformation from conventional tomechanized agriculture, production of crops appropriatedwith climate and extension of irrigated areaTo amend existing agricultural laws and regulations in linewith current situation.

AGRICULTURAL POLICIES

Priority to fulfill the needs of local consumptionExport the surplus of agriculture products to earn foreignexchangeAssistance to rural development through agriculturaldevelopment

Objective of Agriculture Sector

“Promotion of Productivity in Agriculture”

Current Food Crop Production and Food Security in Myanmar

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Rice is the main staple food of Myanmar, therefore, rice cropoccupied 7.28 million hectare and it covers 34.1% of totalcultivated area (21.4 million hectare).Oilseed crop and pulses crops successively occupy the nextlargest area planted.Rice production has been increasing (60% during 1996-1997and 2013-2014).Rice production is self-sufficient for its population andsurplus has been exported.In terms of rice security, it has reached 120% currently inMyanmar.Myanmar is standing as a leading producer and exporter forpulses among ASEAN countries.Pulses have occupied over 21% of the total crop cultivated.Pulses security raised up to 549%.

Area Contribution of Crop GroupsArea Contribution of Crop Groups

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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

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

Cropping Intensity

Sr.No. Crops Sown Area

( 000 ha)Production

(000 mt)

Sown area

%1. Cereal Crops 9600 34355 382. Oil Seed Crops 3950 3379 163. Pulses 4700 5409 194. Industrial crops 1300 10094 55. Culinary crops 355 2043 16. Other crops 5126 21

Total 25031 100

AGRICULTURAL LAND

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

Land Type Mil Ha PercentNet Sown Area

Fellow LandCultural able Waste Land

Reserved ForestsOther Forests

OtherTotal

11.950.445.26

18.6214.7316.6567.66

17.70.77.827.521.824.6100

* Source: Myanmar Agriculture in Brief 2015

National companies and associations in private sector areencouraged and granted rights to develop virgin land andfallow 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 0.96million hectares for commercial farming.Modern upland farm reclamation project is beingundertaken 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 inhilly 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)Shan (East)

Shan (South)Chin

Total

3270129619301285

7780

1538124911591767

5713

4808254430893052

13493

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Soil Map of Myanmar

R4

R4

R4

R3

R3

R3

R3 R5

R3

R4

R5

Availability of Surface Water and Ground Water for Irrigation Purpose

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By March 2014, 240 dams, 327 river pumping stations and 12558groundwater irrigation projects have been completed.Since 2003, being an irrigated agriculture as the single mostimportant, the irrigation area grew substantially, from 1.02 millionha 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 theexpansion of river pumping and the construction of dams.The storage capacity increased from 2.33 km3 in 1988 to 18 km3 in2010.As a result, the cropping intensity rate from 140% in 1995 to160.3% in 2013-2014.More than 75% of the total irrigated area is sown to rice, butvegetables, pulses and sesame are also grown under irrigation.Currently, river pumping covers 38.1% of the irrigated area whiledam and river diversion covers 29.2% of this area.

Irrigated Area (Dam and Water Pumping)

Year Net Sown Area(mil Ha)

Irrigated Area(mil Ha)

Per cent

2001-20022002-20032003-20042004-20052005-20062006-20072007-20082008-20092009-20102010-20112011-20122012-20132013-20142014-2015

10.6510.8211.0411.4111.9412.6113.2213.4913.6413.7513.5813.3013.2613.36

1.991.871.961.932.142.242.222.282.332.292.112.122.132.17

18.617.317.716.917.917.816.816.917.116.715.515.916.116.2

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Main Crops Production in MyanmarNo.

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 Vegetables

Mango, banana, citrus, pears, durian, mangosteen, pineapple, rambutan and others tropical and temperate vegetables 17

Major Crops Production in Myanmar

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Paddy Maize Groundnut

Sesame Sunflower Black gram

Green gram Pigeon pea Cotton Sugarcane

No Cropping Pattern July A ust Set Oct N

ov Dec Jan Feb

Mar

AprMay

Jun

1 Rice – Pulses – Rice

2 Rice – Sunflower – Rice

3Rice – Groundnut/Maize–

Rice

4Rice – Green Gram/ soy

beans– Rice

5Rice – Green Manure –

Cotton

Monsoon Rice

Pulses

Sunflower

Groundnut/ Maize

Green Gram

Pre-monsoon Cotton

Green Manure

Summer Rice

Monsoon Rice

Summer Rice

Monsoon Rice

Summer Rice

Monsoon Rice

Summer Rice

Monsoon Rice

Cotton

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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 )

Cropping System in Myanmar

PADDY

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Total area of paddy was 7.63 million hectares, comprising 6.45million hectares under monsoon paddy and 1.18 million hectaresunder 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.

Paddy Production of MyanmarYear Sown Area

(mil ha)Yield

(mt/ha)Production(mil MT)

2001-20022002-20032003-20042004-20052005-20062006-20072007-20082008-20092009-20102010-20112011-20122012-20132013-20142014-2015

6.456.496.546.867.398.128.098.098.078.057.597.247.287.17

3.423.423.543.643.753.833.934.034.064.073.833.843.903.94

21.9221.8123.1424.7527.6830.9231.4532.5732.6832.5829.0127.7028.3228.19

22Source : Myanmar Agriculture in Brief (2015)

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To generate increased production of paddy, measures are alsobeing undertaken in growing high yielding varieties, includingintroduction of hybrid rice varieties.According to the major tasks of the Ministry, adoption of 14points Good Agricultural Practices in paddy cultivation andproduction of qualified and good high-yield seeds have beenundertaken since 2011 paddy growing season.Utilization of good quality seeds is vital for the increase of riceproduction. Therefore, seed production of hybrid rice variety(namely – Palethwe) was stated at 2011.In the monsoon season of 2013-2014, 223 hectares produced429,694 kilogram. In the summer season, 324 hectares produced547,951 kilogram by department and private companies.In 2014-2015, 361 hectares in monsoon and 506 hectares insummers were planned to produce.

Seed Production at Nay Pyi Taw

Hybrid Seed Production in Myanmar

Hybrid Rice Seed Production in

ShweTaung Farm

MAIZEYear Sown Area

(‘000 ha)Yield

(mt/ha)Production(‘000 MT)

2001-20022002-20032003-20042004-20052005-20062006-20072007-20082008-20092009-20102010-20112011-20122012-20132013-20142014-2015

251269284293321327346355363389412422441459

2.122.252.482.682.873.163.323.393.433.543.613.643.703.75

532603704784918

103211461203124513761485152616261721


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Monsoon maize seed production in 2013-2014, Yezin 6, CP 888and CP 868 varieties were cultivated 15897 hectares and 21.76million kilograms could be produced.In 2014-2015, Myanmar maize exported 88.73 thousand metricton to China. (280-300 $/ton)80% of Myanmar total maize export is being exported to China,Singapore, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia, India, Bulgaria andSpain.Myanmar exported 954 thousand metric tons during 2013-2014.

Maize Production in Myanmar

Hybrid Corn Seed Production in Naypyitaw Area

PULSES

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Pulses were grown in Myanmar since King’s era. It was sown invarious places of the country at any cropping pattern.Major pulses in Myanmar are soybean, chickpea, butter pea, greengram, black gram, pigeon pea, kidney bean, cowpea, lab lab bean,sultani and sultapya.Presently, Myanmar is standing as a leading country in pulsesproduction 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 ofcultivation and increased demand for domestic consumption andexport, has increased substantially from 0.73 million hectares in1988-1989 to 5.914 million hectares in 2014-2015.Export of pulses increased from 17,000 metric tons in 1988-89 toaround 1.46 million metric tons in recent years.

Production of Pulses in Myanmar

Year Sown Area(mil ha)

Yield(mt/ha)

Production(mil MT)

Export(000’MT)

2001-20022002-20032003-20042004-20052005-20062006-20072007-20082008-20092009-20102010-20112011-20122012-20132013-20142014-2015

3.203.273.393.543.814.004.234.284.384.504.424.454.534.55

0.840.850.911.001.051.111.181.231.251.281.231.281.301.32

2.662.763.103.534.014.444.975.275.495.795.415.705.905.99

1035103812118738651156114214501232829

1296148413011459


OIL SEED CROPS

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Oilseed crops also play a vital role in Myanmar due to highconsumption of cooking oil compared to other neighboringcountries.Major oilseed crops include groundnut, sesame, sunflower,mustard and niger.As the amount of edible oil produced is not enouigh for localconsumption, approximate3ly 200,000 mt of palm oil are beingimported annually.Plans are undertaken for the increase in sown area and yield peracre.Hybrid sunflower seed which can double the existing averageyield has been introduced in appropriate areas to replace theexisting OPV sunflower varieties throughout the country.

Year Groundnut Sesame Sunflower Mustard Niger

2001-20022002-20032003-20042004-20052005-20062006-20072007-20082008-20092009-20102010-20112011-20122012-20132013-20142014-2015

569581654684730756815844866877887914931949

13821417144814961338144315081570163415851595155316221581

498460511516690614835884883859543624481484

5569646771759298

10010172636159

9193

104112129121147152156158156156155157

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Oilseed Crop Cultivation in Myanmar (000’Ha)

Source : Myanmar Agriculture in Brief (2015)

Hybrid Sunflower Seed Production in Naypyitaw area

Year Sown Area(000’ ha)

Yield(mt/ha)

Production (000’MT)

Lint Export(MT)

2001-20022002-20032003-20042004-20052005-20062006-20072007-20082008-20092009-20102010-20112011-20122012-20132013-20142014-2015

295302292306332354368367359351326278299304

0.530.540.570.650.710.760.841.231.461.571.641.681.701.75

141143158195236268308453523550533467509532

262-------------

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Production of Cotton in Myanmar



Yield(mt/ha)


Sugar Export(000’MT)

2001-20022002-20032003-20042004-20052005-20062006-20072007-20082008-20092009-20102010-20112011-20122012-20132013-20142014-2015

163148151146134149169165160152154154169181

45.0445.1747.1352.3655.7256.5759.2761.2061.6162.6463.2262.2661.8363.41

7,1166,4296,9137,3107,1878,1689,8339,9019,7159,3989,6909,564

10,47311,307

493119181--9

58-----

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Sugarcane Production in Myanmar



Yield(mt/ha)


2001-20022002-20032003-20042004-20052005-20062006-20072007-20082008-20092009-20102010-20112011-20122012-20132013-20142014-2015

186185189203226295380428463504543581610641

0.590.590.550.570.590.600.640.650.670.690.750.770.760.77

3740405264738993112128150164177198

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Rubber Production in Myanmar



Yield(mt/ha)


2001-20022002-20032003-20042004-20052005-20062006-20072007-20082008-20092009-20102010-20112011-20122012-20132013-20142014-2015

29364654678293

102112125134144148153

2.603.013.052.222.462.392.472.042.132.473.093.373.282.91

21242722324958596993

121134138127

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Oil Palm Production in Myanmar



Yield(mt/ha)


2001-20022002-20032003-20042004-20052005-20062006-20072007-20082008-20092009-20102010-20112011-20122012-20132013-20142014-2015

99111418222324242525202020

0.500.510.530.560.570.590.660.660.670.680.690.700.710.72

23344566778888

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Coffee Production in Myanmar



Yield(mt/ha)


2001-20022002-20032003-20042004-20052005-20062006-20072007-20082008-20092009-20102010-20112011-20122012-20132013-20142014-2015

7374777982858790939596919496

0.990.991.041.061.081.111.151.181.201.211.201.201.201.20

68707577808588929496949698

100

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Tea Production in Myanmar


Fertilizer Usage and Myanmar Agriculture

Myanmar has an open competitive fertilizer marketdependent on imports for over 80% of the total marketdemand estimated at between 1.2 and 1.4 million producttons 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 inpreference to balanced nutrient application rates.

Also they reportedly buy on the basis of lowest price perbag 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.

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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

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Postharvest losses of Monsoon Rice

No. Stage Yangon(Hlegu Tsp)

Bago(Yedashe Tsp)

Ayeyawaddy(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 RiceBy 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( Phyu Tsp)

Chickpea( Chaung Oo Tsp.)

Pigeon pea( Mahlaing)

Harvest0.6 - 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/Cleaning

0.8 – 1.2 1.2 – 1.4 0.9- 1.1

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

• More harvesters, dryers• Better storage facilities• Better milling facilities• Better Transportation System• More Training

To Reduce Postharvest losses

Vegetable Crops Production

* Source: 12th Asis Pacific Agricultural Policy Forum 2013

Fruits Production

* Source: 12th Asis Pacific Agricultural Policy Forum 2013

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

Investment Opportunities for Agriculture in Myanmar

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.

Conclusion

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.

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THANK YOU!

Documents

Agriculture Sector in Myanmar: an Overview