A ROUND 15 million acres of monsoon paddy and about two million acres of summer paddy, totalling roughly 17 million acres, are cultivated annually in Myanmar. This includes around 50 rice varieties favoured by the domestic market and over 20 varieties preferred by foreign markets.
Approximately 80 per cent of the annual paddy output is consumed domestically, while only about 20 per cent is exported abroad. In line with the vision to revitalize Myanmar’s Pawsan rice, plans are currently underway to expand the cultivation and production of high-quality paddy varieties that meet market demand in order to export three million metric tonnes of rice annually in the first phase, along with measures to expand cultivation areas by an additional 350,000 acres for specific rice varieties.
In the second phase, efforts are aimed at exporting up to five million metric tonnes of rice annually. Around the 1930s, Myanmar was the world’s leading rice exporter, exporting up to 3.5 million metric tonnes of rice. Export volumes subsequently declined; however, more than 80 years later, in the 2017-2018 financial year, the country rebounded to export 3.6 million metric tonnes of rice. As such, the government is making efforts to revive and boost the country’s rice exports. To produce and export high-quality edible rice to domestic and international markets, it is necessary to transform traditional seed-saving practices and purchase and cultivate high-quality seeds produced by seed production companies.
Both cultivation and milling are crucial for producing standard-grade quality rice. Moreover, it is essential to utilize good and pure paddy varieties and apply modern farming techniques. Pawsan paddy, recognized among the world’s best rice varieties, is most widely cultivated in the Ayeyawady and Sagaing Regions.
Pawsan rice boasts premium eating quality because when cooked, the grains expand to nearly double their original length, remain soft and tender, emit a fragrant aroma, and are richer in protein than other varieties. Recently, Yezin Pawsan-1 and Yezin Pawsan-2 have been developed, and farmers need to cultivate these superior varieties on a broader scale. Careful efforts must be made from the time of cultivation through the production of paddy and milled rice to prevent any drop in quality, thereby securing a strong reputation and premium prices in the international market.
Therefore, by expanding the cultivation of high-quality paddy varieties that offer top-tier eating quality and boosting exports to foreign rice markets, Myanmar will be able to establish its standing as the world granary” capable of supporting global food security.
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