Farmers are striving to develop the economy of Myanmar and ensure local food security while the State is fulfilling the requirements of quality strains of crops, farmlands, agricultural water and agricultural techniques in order to boost per-acre yield and achieve the target production.
Farmers are integrating the operation of agriculture and livestock activities as part of producing food for the State. The State emphasizes the development of agriculture and livestock activities with modern techniques and encourages production of micro, small and medium-sized enterprises while taking a lead with concerted efforts to increase the export sector and achieve the target per-acre yield of crops.
In areas outside irrigation zones where farming faces water scarcity, efforts are being made to expand cultivated land by using various water-supply methods, such as sinking tubewells to access groundwater and distributing water through damming systems. In addition, existing tube-wells are being facilitated with solar-powered systems, and water is pumped up from rivers, streams, lakes, and canals using solar systems. These initiatives are being implemented, particularly in the arid central regions of Myanmar, with support from the State economic promotion fund to ensure adequate agricultural water for farming.
Although Myanmar’s agricultural sector has traditionally relied on conventional methods, in the future it will need to transition to modern farming systems (Smart Farming) through the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and digital technologies. If lead peasants can widely use AI-based applications throughout the entire cultivation process – from seed sowing to harvest – they could, for example, detect and control pest and disease outbreaks in seconds using just smartphone photos of crop leaves, and systematically plan irrigation and pesticide application based on localized weather forecasts, among other benefits.
As farmers’ digital knowledge increases, they can directly interact and consult with experts, access services through radio and agricultural TV channels, and easily view guidance materials via QR codes in technical booklets, making the dissemination of knowledge faster and more effective. Accordingly, the government is also making efforts to promote the development and widespread use of AI technologies and digital knowledge.
To achieve the State’s national objectives of prosperity of the nation and food security, the Government will continue to provide comprehensive support to meet the needs of peasants and to promote the scientific development of agricultural and livestock production activities. At the same time, farmers have to focus on improving and expanding their cultivation and livestock operations, with particular emphasis on strengthening the success and development of fundamental agricultural and livestock-based industries.