The agricultural sector is one of the most fundamental sectors for Myanmar’s food security, the socioeconomic well-being of its people, rural development, and national economic development. The agricultural sector is not only responsible for producing food but also serves as a source of raw materials required by various industries.
The development of the agricultural sector is not solely responsible for increasing agricultural production. Efforts to develop the agricultural sector contribute to the development of the entire value chain, from the production of raw materials and processing of those raw materials into value-added products to the development of industries, domestic consumption, and exports. Therefore, in implementing agricultural sector development, efforts must be made to promote the development of the entire value chain.
Only through such efforts will farmers’ incomes increase, employment opportunities in the agricultural sector expand, domestic manufacturing be strengthened through the use of agricultural products, and exports increase. These developments will, in turn, contribute to the growth of national output and the national economy. Myanmar must make effective use of its advantages arising from its geographical location and natural conditions, while placing emphasis not only on achieving domestic food security but also on producing high-quality agricultural products and gaining access to regional and global markets.
What is important is that having natural advantages alone does not automatically lead to economic development. These advantages will benefit the national economy only when they can be transformed into productivity, quality, technology, value-added production, and market competitiveness.
It is necessary to transform the agricultural sector from traditional production systems into modern, efficient, and sustainable production systems. As the agricultural sector develops, value-added products, industrial and service sectors will also grow, creating more employment opportunities, increasing people’s incomes, and contributing to higher GDP. Therefore, promoting the agricultural sector is an important first step towards efforts for national economic development and poverty reduction.
In implementing measures to develop the agricultural sector, it is necessary to consider not only crop cultivation but also the livestock sector in an integrated manner. Alongside agricultural activities, efforts should be made to improve production systems, feed costs, livestock breeding technologies, quality breeds, and market linkages in poultry, pig, goat, cattle, fishery, and other livestock enterprises. Such efforts should aim to achieve sufficient and surplus food supplies for domestic consumption and to produce quality products for export to foreign markets, thereby generating income of foreign exchange.
#TheGlobalNewLightOfMyanmar