Myanmar has over 33 million acres of agricultural land, including farmlands, highland farms, and croplands. This area is sufficient to meet the country’s needs, so there is no longer a need to expand the agricultural land area. Instead, it is necessary to transition from traditional farming methods to modern mechanized agriculture, achieve the targeted crop yields, promote multiple cropping, and increase overall agricultural productivity.
The State is striving to ensure that all farmlands achieve the targeted yield of rice, so as not only to meet domestic consumption but also to restore Myanmar’s position as a major exporter of rice and paddy. Efforts are also being made to secure a place for Myanmar’s renowned Pawsan rice in the international rice market. With this objective, the government is implementing the vision of ushering in a new golden era for Myanmar’s Pawsan rice.
In the first phase, the government is implementing plans to enable Myanmar to export three million tonnes of rice annually by expanding the cultivation of high-quality rice varieties that meet market demand on existing cultivated farmland. Measures are also being undertaken to increase the area under improved rice varieties by an additional 350,000 acres.
In the second phase, the government aims to increase annual rice exports to five million tonnes per year. Furthermore, Myanmar is working toward becoming one of the world’s major rice-producing nations, serving not only regional countries but also contributing to global food security as a leading supplier of rice.
In addition, to achieve domestic self-sufficiency in edible oil, the government has designated 12 special zones for the cultivation of oil crops such as groundnut, sesame, and sunflower, and is implementing measures to increase yields per acre and achieve the targeted production levels. For sesame, the target yield has been set at 20 baskets per acre, and farmers are being encouraged and supported to achieve this target while efforts are being made to increase overall crop production. Higher agricultural yields will help reduce production costs, which in turn can contribute to lowering commodity prices.
As such, the government is encouraging and supporting efforts to increase the production of major crops, including paddy. Relevant ministries and local authorities must provide farmers with the necessary agricultural inputs, farming machinery, and advanced agricultural technologies. Only through such efforts can agricultural targets be successfully achieved, leading to increased production of high-quality crops that can meet not only domestic consumption needs but also penetrate and expand in international markets, thereby generating income for crop growers and contributing to the nation’s economy.
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