Rice

expand all
collapse all

Websites/Multiple Documents

Description: "Myanmar is a resource-rich country bordered by India, Bangladesh, China, Laos, and Thailand. It is the second-largest country in Southeast Asia, with a third of its perimeter comprising an uninterrupted coastline that spans 1,930 kilometers along the Bay of Bengal and Andaman Sea. Agriculture is very important in Myanmar?s economy: it employs 70% of the country?s labor force and comprises 38.2% of its GDP. Rice is considered both a major food crop and major export food item. The majority of Myanmar?s sown area is planted to monsoon rice, whereas summer rice is planted between November and February in the delta region in the country?s lower part and from January to March in central dry-zone regions. Myanmar is among the world?s most vulnerable countries to climate change. One of its manifestations that is seen to seriously affect the country?s rice production capacity is heat stress."
Source/publisher: International Rice Research Institute (IRRI)
Date of entry/update: 2015-01-18
Grouping: Websites/Multiple Documents
Category: Rice
Language: English
more
Description: About 334,000 results (May 2018)
Source/publisher: www via Google
Date of entry/update: 2018-05-30
Grouping: Websites/Multiple Documents
Category: Rice
more
Description: About 9,800,000 results (May 2018)
Source/publisher: www via Google
Date of entry/update: 2018-05-30
Grouping: Websites/Multiple Documents
Category: Rice
more
Description: About 409,000 results
Source/publisher: www via Google
Date of entry/update: 2018-05-30
Grouping: Websites/Multiple Documents
Category: Rice
more
Description: Google search results (December 2018) for "heat-resistant rice". About 24,400,000 results...heat-resistant rice Myanmar (About 733,000 results)
Source/publisher: Google
1970-01-01
Date of entry/update: 2018-12-25
Grouping: Websites/Multiple Documents
Category: Rice
Language: English+
more
Description: "IRRI aims to reduce poverty and hunger, improve the health of rice farmers and consumers, and ensure environmental sustainability of rice farming. We do these through collaborative research, partnerships, and the strengthening of the national agricultural research and extension systems, or NARES, of the countries we work in. Our goals IRRI?s goals contribute to the United Nations Millennium Development Goals to eradicate extreme poverty and hunger and ensure environmental sustainability. They are also aligned with the objectives of the Global Rice Science Partnership (the CGIAR Research Program on Rice) that help deliver internationally coordinated research effectively and efficiently with our partners. Ensure that rice production is stable and sustainable, does minimal harm to the environment, and can cope with climate change. Improve the nutrition and health of poor rice consumers and rice farmers. Provide equitable access to information and knowledge on rice and help develop the next generation of rice scientists. Provide rice scientists and rice producers with the genetic information and materials they need to breed better rice varieties, develop technologies to support optimal farming practices, and enhance rice production."
Source/publisher: International Rice Research Institute (IRRI)
Date of entry/update: 2015-01-18
Grouping: Websites/Multiple Documents
Category: Rice
Language: English
more
Description: Or go to IRRI (Alternate URL) and search for Myanmar
Source/publisher: International Rice Research Institute (IRRI),
Date of entry/update: 2003-06-03
Grouping: Websites/Multiple Documents
Category: Rice
Language: English
more
expand all
collapse all

Individual Documents

Sub-title: Myanmar’s rice farmers are facing higher production and transportation costs, lower yields, and low prices, leaving many worried they will no longer be able to earn enough to survive.
Description: "Myanmar’s rice farmers are facing a bitter harvest. With the price of agricultural inputs more than doubling since the start of the year and market conditions more unpredictable than ever, cash-strapped farmers faced a tough choice: take on more debt to buy their usual amount of agricultural inputs, or reduce their use of fertiliser, insecticide and weedkiller. Many have chosen the safer option of spending less, but this will almost certainly result in a lower yield of paddy from this year’s monsoon season crop. U Myint Wai is the owner of a 100-acre farm in Maletto village, in Ayeyarwady Region’s Maubin Township, and normally averages 70 baskets of paddy an acre. He told Frontier that farmers like him had had to cut costs drastically just to cope with the pandemic, and he’s expecting a drop in yield of up to 30 percent. “Farmers can use only one-third of the inputs they used the previous year,” he said. “The per-acre yield will certainly be reduced. A plot that used to yield 70 baskets per acre may now yield only 50 baskets.” Paddy farmers told Frontier that the price of a bag of fertiliser that had cost K20,000 (about US$10 at an exchange rate of K2,000 to the dollar) last year, was selling for K50,000 (about $25). Since the coup, Myint Wai said, most farmers have been struggling just to make ends meet, let alone save for the future. Although increased joblessness from the pandemic and political unrest means there is no shortage of labour, many farmers simply can’t afford to hire the people they need to bring in the harvest. U Sann Tin, who farms paddy, peanuts and sesame in Magway Region’s Myaing Township, said that farming families were having to do more with less. “A plot that normally needs to be weeded twice can only be weeded once,” he said. “If the work can be done by members of the family, we do it ourselves instead of hiring anyone. We have to weigh [the cost of] everything.” Read more: Monsoon rice crop in peril as farmers hit by coup turmoil For the cultivation of crops other than paddy, daily wages vary according to location. In Myaing Township this year, a man can expect to earn about K3,000 ($1.50) for half a day’s weeding, but a woman will earn only half that. “Farmers have to carefully consider whether to buy even one bag of fertiliser,” said the owner of a shop selling agricultural chemicals in Pyinmana Township, Nay Pyi Taw. He declined to give his name because he feared reprisals for speaking to a journalist. Myint Wai said farmers are waiting nervously to see if they will make any profit this year. “We are growing rice, but we do not know how much we’ll earn,” he said. Falling exports Farmers fear that even as they are facing higher production and transportation costs, the price of rice may fall. Many rice mills closed when the third wave of COVID-19 tore through Myanmar in July, border gates remain shut, and demand from other foreign markets has dropped. Although most rice produced in Myanmar is for domestic consumption, exports have become an important feature of the agricultural economy over the past decade, helping farmers earn more for their crop. Myanmar was one of the world’s leading rice exporters until General Ne Win seized power in 1962 and adopted the disastrous “Burmese Way to Socialism”, which left farmers with little incentive to produce more rice than they needed for subsistence. A few regime cronies were allowed to export under the previous military dictatorship, but after U Thein Sein came to power in 2011 the export process was liberalised significantly. U Myo Tint Htun, deputy secretary of the junta’s Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation, told Frontier that from 2012 to 2018 Myanmar exported between 2 million and 4 million tonnes of rice a year. Exports have already started to fall since the coup. In the first 10 months of this fiscal year, to the end of July, Myanmar had shipped or trucked 1.7 million tonnes of rice and broken rice to foreign buyers, down from 2 million tonnes over the same period the previous year. The decline is mainly because of higher transportation costs by both road and sea, said U Ye Min Aung, chairman of the Myanmar Rice Federation. “The rising transportation costs are the biggest challenge for exporting rice this year,” he said. “But we are looking for all possible ways to continue exports … of Myanmar rice and broken rice.” Myanmar ships 70pc of its rice exports and the remaining 30pc is transported across land borders, show Myanmar Rice Federation figures. Because Myanmar imports most of its refined fuel, the collapse of the kyat since the start of this year – it is trading at close to half its pre-coup level – has sent fuel prices skyrocketing. But shipping rates have increased even further, said Ye Min Aung. He told Frontier that it cost about $8,000 to ship a container of rice to Europe this year, four times what it cost last year. “The main reason for the rising cost of transportation is COVID-19,” he said. “Because it is a pandemic, the cost of marine transportation has risen globally, not just in Myanmar. But because of the current unstable situation here, some of the foreign marine cargo-liners don’t want to come here.” There are also headaches for those who export through land borders. U Khun Min Thant, a rice exporter at Muse in northern Shan State, opposite China’s Yunnan Province, said border closures caused by the pandemic had a serious impact on his work. As COVID-19 cases began to skyrocket in Myanmar in early July, China closed all border crossings with Myanmar, including those at Muse, which accounts for 70pc of the country’s border trade. Read more: ‘Prices are dropping exponentially’: Border trade hit hard as China shuts the gates “Since the border gates with China are closed, rice exports across the border have been completely suspended — not for political reasons, but for the pandemic,” he said. Although the number of COVID-19 cases remains high in Shan State, traders in Muse said they were optimistic that trade would resume in mid-October. “It is possible to export through marine channels, but it requires too many documents and papers. So just a few exporters use this channel. When the pandemic subsides, rice exports will return to normal.” The military regime is certainly hoping so. It is aiming to promote agricultural self-sufficiency and has also made agriculture-based industrialisation a key objective, both in public speeches and its draft Myanmar Economic Recovery Plan. Coup leader Senior General Min Aung Hlaing conceded at a September 7 meeting that rice exports had fallen short of expectations. He suggested that farmers’ incomes could be increased by raising the per-acre yield through the use of good quality strains of seeds and necessary agricultural inputs, and urged regional and state chief ministers to prioritise agriculture. But his comments seem out of step with a reality in which the tanking kyat makes those inputs significantly more expensive, and in which a banking crisis has made access to credit much more difficult and expensive. As public policy analyst U Khine Win wrote recently in Frontier, the impact of farmers using less inputs has not yet been reflected in trade figures, because this year’s monsoon crop has not been harvested. Although overall trade fell 20pc this fiscal year, agriculture exports remained steady. As a result, they account for more than one-third of all exports – a 25pc increase on the previous year. “Decreased fertiliser use this year means agricultural outputs are likely to fall dramatically in the near future, hitting both exporters and importers hard,” he wrote. The International Food Policy Research Institute, which has predicted that fertiliser sales will decline by half this year, has warned that lower yields will have a significant impact on poverty, as about 80pc of the country’s poor are linked to the agricultural sector. Read more: The economics behind Min Aung Hlaing’s grand delusions A price fix? Farmers are also worried about the price they’ll receive after they harvest their crop in the coming months. Rice merchants say the retail price of the cereal has been steadily rising since the coup, because people have been stocking up on staple foods. A 50kg bag of low-grade manawthukha rice that cost K29,000 pre-coup is selling for K32,000. U Hlaing, a rice merchant in Mandalay, suggested that the rises would be temporary. “The price of rice does not rise too much,” he said. “Mainly because of spreading rumours about the political situation, people rush to buy rice, and it prompts the merchants to raise the price. But it does not last long. The next day when the rumour subsides, the business is normal.” But even if retail prices are higher than pre-coup levels, higher production and transport costs mean farmers are unlikely to enjoy a higher profit on their paddy. Many fear they may lose money. In recent years, the government has set a floor price for paddy to ensure farmers do not sell their crop at a loss. Ye Min Aung said that the Myanmar Rice Federation is still calculating the floor price – a process that involves negotiations among representatives from the federation, the government, farmers and rice merchants. “I think it will be announced around the same time as last year [in October],” he said. “The [military] government will make the announcement.” Once set, buyers purchase rice from farmers at the market rate or the floor price, whichever is higher. The floor price was fixed at K500,000 for 100 baskets of paddy in 2018 and 2019, before being raised to K520,000 in 2020. Ye Min Aung said he expected it to be about K540,000 for 100 baskets this year. “The floor price will certainly be higher than that of last year but not by much,” he said. “The floor price is just the floor price. The market price can be higher,” said Ye Min Aung, adding that last year 100 baskets of paddy fetched between K500,000 and K900,000 ($250 to $450 at current exchange rates), depending on the variety. A basket of paddy weighs 20.87 kilogrammes or 46 pounds, so 100 baskets is just over 2 tonnes. Although the Myanmar Rice Federation maintains that setting a floor price helps farmers make a profit while stabilising prices for consumers, some farmers doubt that it will be an effective safety net. U Ko Ko Naing, who grows paddy on 15 acres in Mandalay Region’s Patheingyi Township, said he doubted the regime would be able to enforce the floor price if the market rate was lower. “It makes no difference how you fix the price in a free market. The government cannot take action against a buyer who pays less than the floor price,” he said. “If buyers pay the floor price when the current price is lower than that, they expect higher quality. The price mainly just depends on supply and demand.” The regime will also be keen to ensure prices do not rise too much. The impacts of COVID-19 and the coup have left many households struggling to afford even the basics, like rice, salt and cooking oil. With the World Bank forecasting an 18pc contraction in GDP and more economic pain ahead, the United Nations Development Programme expects poverty levels to double by early next year, to more than half the population. Ma Lin Lin of Pyinmana Township in Nay Pyi Taw is one of the many people who have been hit hard by the mounting crises. Her husband was working as a carpenter on a construction site, earning about K10,000 a day, but is now mostly out of work. Lin Lin is keeping their family of five afloat by running a small store from her house, but has seen her daily takings fall from K20,000 to less than K10,000. It’s barely enough to cover the rent on their house, and she’s had to cut back on spending as much as possible. “For daily food, we weigh and use what we can get each day,” she said. “In the past we would mix half rough rice with half fine rice. Now we just have to eat rough rice.” She’s worried that sooner or later, the family will fall into a spiral of debt. “We have nothing to spare, so if someone in my family fell ill, what would we do?”..."
Source/publisher: "Frontier Myanmar" (Myanmar)
2021-10-01
Date of entry/update: 2021-10-09
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language:
more
Description: "Myanmar’s farmers are making losses as the prices of fertilizers and other agricultural inputs have doubled during the monsoon season amid ongoing turmoil under military rule. A sack of fertilizer has jumped from 25,000 kyats (US$13) to 70,000 kyats and it costs more than 60,000 kyats to harvest an acre (0.4 hectares) as fuel prices have significantly increased, said a farmer from Kayan Township in Yangon Region, who did not want to be named. Price hikes have forced many paddy farmers to use less fertilizer, which will directly affect the harvest, he said. “Previously, we could buy goods on credit. But sellers can’t give credit now so we can’t fertilize our farms,” he said. The military regime on Wednesday fixed a minimum or floor price for rice at 540,000 kyats for 100 baskets of paddy (the regime set one basket at 21kg, however on the market, it is around 22-23kg) for monsoon paddy this year and hot-season paddy next year. A regime statement said the market can exceed the floor price but not fall below it. Monsoon paddy harvest is just beginning and prices will depend on the merchants. Only when the rice fetches 700,000 kyats per 100 baskets at market can they have a profit of 70,000 kyats to 100,000 kyats, said farmers. It costs more than 400,000 kyats per acre with an estimated harvest of 70 baskets, according to farmers. And the yield will decline with the limited use of fertilizer. Rice prices are 500,000-600,000 kyats per 100 baskets in Myanmar. Current prices are only covering most farmers’ costs. Farmers in remote locations are making losses after earning only around 500,000 kyats after transport costs are paid to merchants. If price hikes continue, it will be difficult for farmers to grow paddy in the coming hot season when there will be no rain and farmers rely on wells and irrigation, they said. “Fuel prices have increased so the harvest may decline in farms that have to pump from wells in the hot season,” an Ayeyarwady Region farmer told The Irrawaddy. Even in Ayeyarwady Region, farmers in Zalun, Danubyu, Kyonpyaw, Pantanaw and other townships have to use wells during the hot season, meaning the area being cultivated might decline, he said. “Given the fertilizer and other prices, it will be hard for farmers to grow hot-season paddy,” said the Kayan Township farmer. While the minimum price was set at 520,000 kyats per 100 baskets of paddy last year, fixing the price at 540,000 kyats this year will not help farmers, considering the current situation. Given the fixed prices, farmers who borrowed money from lenders or pawned their belongings to grow paddy will be forced to abandon their livelihoods, said Pakokku University Students Union..."
Source/publisher: "The Irrawaddy" (Thailand)
2021-10-07
Date of entry/update: 2021-10-09
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language:
more
Sub-title: COVID-19 does not appear to have had a significant impact on monsoon planting for paddy despite some farmers facing financial difficulties, and the agriculture sector is expected to keep growing amid a slump in other parts of the economy.
Description: "Myanmar’s most important crop – grown on roughly half of its arable land – appears to have emerged relatively unscathed from the coronavirus pandemic. When the country’s first COVID-19 cases were reported on March 23, harvesting had begun for the summer rice crop; three months later, as efforts continue to keep the coronavirus under control, planting has begun for the monsoon crop. Overall, the agriculture sector, which accounts for 22 percent of GDP and 38pc of employment, had been “resilient”, the World Bank said in its June Myanmar Economic Monitor, and is expected to grow by 0.7pc for the year. This is mostly due to strong production of crops, such as rice, and beans and pulses, with COVID-19 inflicting a much greater impact on export-oriented agriculture sub-sectors, such as livestock, fisheries and fruit production. A World Bank survey in May found that while agriculture firms were the most likely to have experienced cash-flow shortages and reduced access to credit due to COVID-19, just 6pc of them were forced to close. In contrast, 12pc of manufacturers, 15pc of retail and wholesale businesses and 39pc of service companies shut their doors. But the impact of the virus remains a threat, says the Myanmar Rice Federation. It has asked the government to take a range of measures to strengthen the sector during the pandemic and beyond, including mitigating the impacts of climate change, particularly flooding, along with increasing financial and technical support. The government should ensure farmers have greater access to low-interest loans for buying inputs in order to ensure higher yields, the MRF said. It also urged greater flexibility on repayments so that farmers can wait a few months after the harvest, when overseas and domestic demand usually rises, rather than sell their crop at the same time to pay off debts, which pushes prices down. “We want to work with the government to create a mechanism to [maintain price stability]; the situation requires smart intervention from the government,” said MRF chair U Ye Min Aung..."
Creator/author:
Source/publisher: "Frontier Myanmar" (Myanmar)
2020-07-23
Date of entry/update: 2020-07-23
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language:
more
Sub-title: Three Asean heavyweights - Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines - have offered to buy rice produced in Myanmar, U Khin Maung Lwin, deputy secretary of the Ministry of Commerce, told The Myanmar Times.
Description: "The Philippines and Malaysia have offered to purchase 300,000 tonnes and 50,000 tonnes of rice from Myanmar, respectively, while Indonesia has yet to confirm the quantity it wants. The Philippines is already an existing rice export market for Myanmar, having already bought 60,000 tonnes of rice this year with a further 10,000 tonnes en route. Due to COVID-19, the Asean countries are beefing up their rice reserves, which presents an opportunity for Myanmar to negotiate long term export contracts with them, U Khin Maung Lwin said. “Currently, international rice prices are surging now so we will need to negotiate for favourable terms,” he said. He added that Myanmar must weigh international demand for rice against its own needs. “Demand is rising in the rice market but we also need to consider domestic food security. On the other hand, if there is too much supply inside the country, prices may plunge," he said. The Ministry of Commerce suspended rice export licenses in April but resumed in May and has since allowed 150,000 tonnes to exported. It has so far built up an export reserve equivalent to 10 percent of total exports, and purchased 50,000 tonnes of for domestic reserves. Myanmar expects export 2.5million tonnes of rice in fiscal 2019-20 and earned more than US$542million from the export of 1.8 million tonnes of rice up until May 15. Around 14 percent of the exports were conducted at the border while more than 85pc was shipped out. .."
Creator/author:
Source/publisher: "Myanmar Times" (Myanmar)
2020-06-04
Date of entry/update: 2020-06-04
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language:
more
Description: "The Myanmar government has reserved about 2,200 tonnes of rice during this month, according to the press statement of the Myanmar Rice Federation (MRF). According to a report by the Global New Light of Myanmar on May 30, the Ministry of Commerce, Myanmar Inspection and Testing Service (MITS), the authorized organization of the State and MRF have implemented the rice reserve scheme since 30 April. The state purchased about 2,200 tonnes of rice from 80 companies as of 27 May, in line with the set rules and regulations. As part of these regulations, exporters have to sell 10 per cent of total export volume (25% broken, well-milled and sorted rice). As the report notes, the reserved rice must be sent to the state’s warehouse. It is the job of the MITS, the authorized organization of the State, to inspect and verify the quality and quantity of the rice..."
Source/publisher: "Mizzima" (Myanmar)
2020-05-30
Date of entry/update: 2020-05-31
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language:
more
Sub-title: More than 5,000 tonnes of rice - around 100,000 sacks - have piled up at the Myanmar-China border over the past month, when the Chinese authorities temporarily suspended imports without certificates from the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine of the People's Republic of China (AQSIQ), said U Min Thein, vice chair of Muse 105-mile Rice Wholesale Center.
Description: "As a result, some 150 trucks have been unable to go beyond the Kyal Gaung area since April 3 and have hired warehouses to store rice in the meantime. “The drivers hired 10 warehouses for more than 100,000 sacks of rice at K200 per sack,” said U Min Thein. He added that the agriculture ministry had not been issuing AQSIQ certificates for the first few weeks in April but have started doing so after inspecting the rice stocks since April 20. However, traders are anticipating further losses. “We are incurring losses on the warehouse rentals for earlier stockpiles. We cannot trade those as they have not been inspected and don’t have AQSIQ certificates. The first 100,000 sacks of rice haven’t passed customs inspections yet so we can’t export additional sacks due to the backlog," said U Min Thein. Trade at the border resumed in May and China has issued letters to Chinese companies permitting them to import up to five times more rice than the amount purchased last year. In 2019, the Chinese government permitted the import of a total of 50,000 tonnes of rice..."
Creator/author:
Source/publisher: "Myanmar Times" (Myanmar)
2020-05-03
Date of entry/update: 2020-05-04
Grouping: Individual Documents
Category: Rice
Language:
more
Description: "MYANMAR will resume rice exports from May at regular volumes of 150,000 tonnes. The Myanmar Rice Federation (MRF) said 100,000 tonnes will be shipped overseas while the remaining 50,000 tonnes will be traded at the border. According to reports in the Myanmar Times, government estimates indicate that more than two million tonnes will be allocated for export in the current fiscal year. About 10 per cent will be retained as food reserves for Myanmar. A total of 112 companies will handle the maritime exports while 200 companies will be involved in the border trade for May. The MRF said about 60 per cent of the two million tonnes will consist of equal allocations from all the companies. The remaining volumes will consist of additional allocations from companies involved in contract farming and which made investments in mills or warehouses over the last three years. MRF is currently in negotiations with some Asean countries and for government-to-government export arrangements. Executive member of the MRF, U Soe Thun said the country has a rice surplus of between 2.5 million and three million tonnes and these are exported every year. The country exported about 2.5 million tonnes last year..."
Source/publisher: "New Straits Times" (Malaysia)
2020-05-01
Date of entry/update: 2020-05-01
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language:
more
Description: "Myanmar has exported over 1.19 million tons of rice and broken rice in first five months of present fiscal year (FY) 2019-2020, according to the latest figures released by Myanmar Rice Federation on Saturday. From Oct.1, 2019 to Feb. 7 of this FY, the country earned over 343.6 million U.S. dollars from the export of 838,672 tons of rice and 356,370 tons of broken rice. During the period, 86.32 percent of rice and broken rice export was done through sea route. Meanwhile, demand for Myanmar's rice and broken rice from neighbouring countries including China accounted for over 27 percent of the export. Myanmar has set a target to export 2.5 million tons of rice in present fiscal year which will end on Sept. 30, 2020. In previous FY 2018-2019, the country exported over 2.35 million tons of rice and broken rice with over 709.6 million U.S. dollars' export revenue..."
Creator/author:
Source/publisher: "Xinhua" (China)
2020-02-29
Date of entry/update: 2020-03-01
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language:
more
Description: "During three months of the current fiscal year, Myanmar earned over 250 million US dollars from the exports of around 900,000 tons of rice and broken rice, according to Myanmar Rice Federation. Till December 27 of 2019-20 FY, Myanmar exported 894,889.703 tons of rice and broken rice worth 256.452 million US dollars. During this period, Myanmar exported over 600,000 tons of rice worth over 180 million US dollars to 53 countries and around 290,000 tons of broken rice worth over 75 million US dollars, to 45 countries. Myanmar exports rice to the EU and Africa via sea route and China via Muse border trade. During three months, Myanmar earned over 34 million US dollars from exports of over 130,000 tons of rice and broken rice via border trade. Border trade accounted for 15 per cent of the total rice export. Myanmar earned over 220 million US dollars from exports of over 760,000 tons of rice and broken rice via sea route. It made up over 85 per cent of the total rice export. In 2018-19 FY, Myanmar earned 709.693 million US dollars from exports of 2.355 tons of rice and broken rice, according to the MRF. In 2017-18 FY, Myanmar’s rice exports reached a record high within over 50 years, with the exports of nearly 3.6 million tons of rice and broken rice..."
Source/publisher: Eleven Media Group (Myanmar)
2020-01-12
Date of entry/update: 2020-01-12
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language:
more
Description: "Rice exports may fall below 8 million tonnes for 2019, with this year's prospects still uncertain because of a slew of risk factors such as the continued strong baht, natural disasters and emerging new rice exporters like Myanmar and China. Charoen Laothamatas, president of the Thai Rice Exporters Association, said shipments definitely will stand below 9 million tonnes, as projected by the association for 2019, but could struggle to hit 8 million tonnes. In the first 11 months of 2019, Thailand shipped 7.11 million tonnes, a dip of 30.4% from the same period a year earlier, fetching US$2.90 billion, down 24.3%. The fall was attributed to the strong baht, hurting the country's export competitiveness. Another factor is the lack of Thai rice variety development over a period of 30 years to cope with changing market demand and consumer behaviour. Thailand has shipped the same rice varieties for 30 years, Mr Charoen said..."
Source/publisher: "Bangkok Post" (Thailand)
2020-01-06
Date of entry/update: 2020-01-06
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language:
more
Description: "In 2018-19 fiscal year, around 17.9 million acres of monsoon paddy were grown and paddy production was around 30 million tons of paddy, said Dr. Aung Thu, Union Minister for Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation. Paddy production still tops the list of local agro products. Pawsanhmway paddy accounted for around 1.3 million acres of total paddy growing acres. There is a high demand for Pawsanhmway paddy in the local market. Farmers get a good price for Pawsanhmway paddy. Pawsanhmway paddy got the Word’s Best Rice Award at Rice Traders World Rice Conference held in Hochimin City of Vietnam in 2011. The agricultural sector contributes to 30 per cent of the GDP and 25 per cent of the export earnings. The rural people which account for 70 per cent of have to rely on agriculture and breeding. Till June of 2018-19 FY, Myanmar planted 15,083,156 acres of monsoon paddy and 2,777,899 acres of summer paddy and produced over 1,294.5 million baskets of paddy—1,082,587,039 baskets of monsoon paddy and 211,969253 baskets of summer paddy, according to the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation..."
Source/publisher: "Eleven Media Group" (Myanmar)
2019-10-27
Date of entry/update: 2019-11-15
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language:
more
Description: "Myanmar earned US$ 65 million from exporting more than 220,000 tons of rice and broken rice within one month of the current fiscal year, up US$ 21 million on more than 90,000 tons, compared to the same period of last year, said a source from the Ministry of Commerce. From October 1 to 25 in 2019-2020 financial years, Myanmar exported 220,000 tons of rice and broken rice, up more than 90,000 tons compared to the same period of last year, Khin Maung Lwin, Assistant Secretary of the Ministry of Commerce. “Rice and broken rice export volume reaches US$ 65 million, up 21 US$ million, compared to the same period of last year,” said Khin Maung Lwin. In the same period of last year, Myanmar exported up to 2.954 million tons and earned US$ 1,003.662 million. Myanmar is exporting rice to EU and African markets by water and China through Muse by land. Myanmar managed to extend its rice market into the world during 2017-2018 FY exporting almost 3.6 million tons..."
Creator/author:
Source/publisher: "Eleven Media Group" (Myanmar)
2019-11-08
Date of entry/update: 2019-11-09
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language:
more
Description: "Rice paddy farmers in Ayeyarwady Region have complained that merchants are paying them less than the minimum price recently set by the government. The government’s Leading Committee for the Protection and Promotion of the Rights and Interests of Farmers, led by Vice President Henry Van Thio, fixed the floor price for rice this year at 500,000 kyats for 100 baskets of paddy (US$327.30 for about 2.09 tons) in a move to protect the interests of paddy farmers. But farmers in Ayeyarwady Region said merchants only pay for around 450,000 kyats for 100 baskets of paddy. “In Maubin, paddy prices are between 450,000 and 480,000 kyats. This is the price given by merchants and rice millers. Though the government said the minimum price is 500,000 kyats, nobody is paying that price, and the government is not buying directly from farmers, so we can only sell at market rates,” said rice farmer U Hla Htay of Yenangyoung village in Maubin Township. The government said in the second week of October that it will pay the floor price for paddy that meets quality standards: the grains, once processed, must have a moisture content of 14 percent and the baskets can’t contain any dust, sand or gravel..."
Creator/author:
Source/publisher: "The Irrawaddy" (Thailand)
2019-11-04
Date of entry/update: 2019-11-04
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language:
more
Description: "Opening the lid of her rice cooker, a luxury bought when power finally came to their village in central Myanmar three years ago, Tin Aye scooped out two fat ladles for breakfast. "I cannot go without eating rice. Since the start of the day, all my stomach asks for is rice," said the 52-year-old mother of three, laughing. Myanmar is a nation obsessed with rice. Its people eat an average of 155 kilograms a year, according to a 2016 survey by the country's rice federation and Yezin Agricultural University, ensuring Myanmar has one of the world's highest rates of rice consumption. For half a century, successive leaders anchored agriculture policies on rice. The government used loans, infrastructure, and services to push farmers to grow it and people to eat it, so rice is now woven into the fabric of daily life. In place of "Hello," people greet each other by asking, "Have you had rice?" It wasn't always this way in Myanmar, where diets were once seasonal, diverse - and much more healthy. But a rice-centric policy that began in the 1960s during the socialist era led people to grow and consume more, said Tin Htut Oo, who has worked in the agricultural ministry and chaired an advisory body to the government. "Our diets, especially in urban areas, are becoming like Western diets. It has become more monotonous," he said.,."
Source/publisher: "Reuters" (UK) via "Global Times" (China)
2019-05-05
Date of entry/update: 2019-10-27
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language:
more
Topic: Myanmar Economy, Rice, Rice Farmers
Topic: Myanmar Economy, Rice, Rice Farmers
Description: "The Myanmar government has fixed the minimum price for rice at 500,000 kyats for 100 baskets of paddy (US$327.30 for about 2.09 tons) in a bid to establish a fair market and fair prices for paddy farmers. The government’s Leading Committee for the Protection and Promotion of the Rights and Interests of Farmers, led by Vice President Henry Van Thio, met last month to discuss setting the floor price for paddy grains. Paddy rice refers to unprocessed rice harvested from a field, rather than hulled rice. The government has agreed to pay any farmer the floor price, but only for paddy that meets quality standards: the grains, once processed, must have a moisture content of 14 percent and can’t have any dust, sand or gravel, according to an announcement released by the committee on Tuesday. According to the statement, if the market rate is higher than the floor price, rice is to be bought according to the market rate, but if the market rate is lower than the floor price, it is to be bought at floor price..."
Creator/author:
Source/publisher: "The Irrawaddy" (Thailand)
2019-10-16
Date of entry/update: 2019-10-17
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language:
more
Sub-title: Myanmar’s rice industry can be reignited by reforms. However, key challenges need to be addressed for the country to re-establish itself in the international market.
Description: "Myanmar once held the distinction of being the world’s largest exporter of rice, accounting for one-third of the global rice trade in 1934-35. However, post-independence nationalisation of the industry resulted in a vicious cycle where low-quality inputs led to low-quality outputs, which soon became uncompetitive in the international market. Reforms to the sector and the wider economy over the past decade have led to a revival of Myanmar’s rice export industry. With a target set by the Myanmar Rice Federation to achieve four million tonnes in exports by 2020-21, it is vital to build on this momentum by addressing the critical challenges that remain for the industry. Of the many challenges facing the rice sector in Myanmar, issues of productivity and quality are key.....Productivity along the supply chain: Low productivity at the farm level contributes to low yields in Myanmar’s rice industry. Many determinants of farm-level productivity relate to inputs, including seed, fertiliser and irrigation. Since 1977, the Myanmar government has promoted high-yielding varieties (HYVs) of rice seed. However, the performance of HYVs in the country is frequently undermined by factors such as relying on harvested paddy for seed – which leads to seed degeneration over time – improper fertiliser use, insufficient irrigation and lack of drainage facilities..."
Creator/author:
Source/publisher: "Myanmar Times" (Myanmar)
2019-09-27
Date of entry/update: 2019-09-27
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language:
more
Sub-title: The Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation has urged farmers to use water more efficiently as there is less water behind the country’s more than 300 reservoirs and dams despite the current rainy season.
Description: "The monsoon, which started in late May, is due to end later this month. As of Sunday, Thaphan Seik Dam, the biggest in Southeast Asia, had only 600,000 acre feet of water, compared to 2.25 million acre feet of water during the same period last year, or only 27 percent of the previous year. “It is hard to distribute enough water for summer rice. Some dams have to prioritise drinking water,” said U Myo Tint Tun, deputy permanent secretary of the ministry. “So farmers need to save water in order to minimise, if not prevent, a water shortage.” U Win Hlaing Oo, head of the Agriculture Department in Sagaing Region, said that to conserve water his office will plant less rice in the summer in favour of crops that use less water. “After we supply water for monsoon rice, we will reduce the cultivating area of summer rice,” he said. “Instead, we will grow crops like mung beans and sesame, which need less water.” The large dams in the dry zone of central Myanmar, which includes Sagaing, Mandalay and Magwe regions, are low on water, agriculture officials said..."
Creator/author:
Source/publisher: "Myanmar Times"
2019-09-10
Date of entry/update: 2019-09-11
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language:
more
Sub-title: A quick introduction to the past, present and future of Myanmar’s most important industry.
Description: "The most common crops are rice, beans and pulses, and maize, in that order. In general, farmers grow rice and maize during the monsoon season and beans and pulses during the dry season, although farmers in the temperate highlands often try for a second harvest of rice and maize if there is enough water left after the rains. Likewise, in the water-rich Ayeyarwady Delta, farmers often eschew dry season beans for another paddy harvest. Rice (including Myanmar’s most famous variety, paw san) and beans and pulses (especially chickpeas, green gram and black gram) are grown basically everywhere. Indeed, 80 percent of all Myanmar farmers grow rice and most plant beans and pulses after the paddy growing season, according to a survey published in 2016 by the World Bank Group. That said, the rice production peaks around the Ayeyarwady Delta, while more beans and pulses (which can tolerate hotter, dryer conditions) are grown in the central dry zone. Maize comes a distant third in terms of area cultivated. Unlike beans and rice, maize thrives in the temperate highlands, especially in Shan State, Sagaing Region and Chin State..."
Creator/author:
Source/publisher: "Frontier Myanmar"
2018-03-26
Date of entry/update: 2019-08-31
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language:
more
Description: "Climate change doesn’t always mean extreme events that leave behind mass destruction and chaos, it isn’t always loud, . Often it’s slow and spookily quiet. This is true for the people of Pakokku, in the dry zone of Myanmar. The land is flat, hot and dry and extremely vulnerable, climate change aggravates these already extreme conditions. People from areas along the river experience flooding and are often forced to leave their homes and take refuge in the local town monastery. Further inland, the region is experiencing chronic water problems, with struggles to continue traditional farming such as growing rice paddy. Myanmar Climate Change Alliance has conducted studies on the current vulnerabilities and projections reveal that temperatures may increase up to maximum 2.7 degrees by 2050 with up to 4-17 hot days per month in the summer season compared to one hot day per month defined historically. With a loss of traditional livelihoods, many (mostly men) have had to migrate to cities or to neighbouring Thailand in search of work, which makes Pakokku more vulnerable for lack of skilled human resources in the townships, leaving women led households without alternative sources of income..."
Source/publisher: "The Global Climate Change Alliance Plus Initiative (GCCA+)"
2019-03-19
Date of entry/update: 2019-08-31
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language:
more
Description: "The food security situation in the Dry Zone has improved compared to a year ago. Overall, 17 percent of households are severely food insecure, 24 percent moderately and 59 percent food secure. In the areas covered in both 2009 and 2010, the share of severely food insecure households decreased by 15 percent. Households were able to enhance both food consumption and food access. In 2010, 10 percent of households had poor food consumption compared to 21 percent in 2009 in the areas assessed in both years. The share of households with an acceptable diet has increased from 36 to 58 percent. Households with poor food access who are depending on unreliable food sources decreased from 40 to 32 percent. The situation has improved across the Dry Zone. However, food insecurity levels remained high among households in Zone B, which is characterized by poor access to land and physical access to markets. Households relying on wood/bamboo cutting or casual labour as well as female headed households and those with children under-5 are more vulnerable to food insecurity compared to other groups. Agriculture is an important factor contributing to improved food security in the Dry Zone. Generally, farming households are amongst the most food secure households. They were able to benefit from relatively improved crop conditions compared to the previous year and increased marketing opportunities. Generally, there has been an increase in the area cultivated. In 2009, 40 percent of farming households cultivated a plot below subsistence level (< 2 acres), in 2010 the share was only 22 percent..."
Source/publisher: WFP (World Food Programme)
2011-02-00
Date of entry/update: 2019-08-30
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language:
Format : pdf
Size: 1.74 MB
more
Description: "Myanmar-focused private equity firm Anthem Asia announced on Friday it invested over $1 million in an early-stage agri-business Shan Orchard Myanmar Ltd, the first investment from its $50-million Myanmar SME Venture Fund. Based close to Heho Airport located near the popular Inle Lake at Southern Shan State in Myanmar, Shan Orchard is an agriculture services business focusing on growing Hass avocados and processing avocado oil. It is led by seasoned agri-business entrepreneurs Nathan Naing Winn and Daniel Bennett, as well as local Myanmar female entrepreneur Thel Suu Thinzar Bo. The capital will be used for purchasing an avocado oil processing facility, support facilities, acquiring farmland and working capital. “The avocado oil processing will be running by the end of the year with supplies coming from dozens of local farmers. In future, we will also source international grade avocados from our own plantations,” said Shan Orchard co-founder Nathan Naing Winn, who has experiences in logistics, operations and finance. Shan Orchard is also leveraging its management expertise to add value with other higher-value crops: it is trialling higher-value rice types and plans to intercrop other high-value products with the avocado plant to maximise land use and improve seasonality..."
Creator/author:
Source/publisher: "Deal Street Asia"
2019-08-23
Date of entry/update: 2019-08-24
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language:
more
Description: "In Myanmar, the agricultural sector accounts for some 28 percent of the country's gross domestic product (GDP), but yields are low due to farmers being cut-off from modern technology under the previous regime for decades. Farmers in Myanmar are still among the country's poorest. A 2017 World Bank study found that farmers in some areas of the country still earn as little as US$2 per day. Compared to other rice-yielding nations in the region, rice paddy generation is also low in Myanmar at 23 kilograms (kg) a day as opposed to Cambodia (62kg), Vietnam (429kg), and Thailand (547kg) respectively, a 2016 World Bank report stated. Most people in Myanmar, including farmers, have smartphones. The country today has a smartphone penetration rate of 80 percent and app developers have been quick to create apps for everything ranging from healthcare to Myanmar's parliament. One game-changer among agricultural apps in Myanmar is the ‘Green Way’ app which was launched in 2016. The app provides farmers with up-to-date information on everything from weather and climate change to crop prices and advice on pesticides and fertilisers. There is also a chat feature on the app that allows farmers to connect with each other, allowing for exchange of information. There are also tips, as well as the availability of experts on hand to answer additional queries..."
Creator/author:
Source/publisher: "The ASEAN Post"
2019-05-12
Date of entry/update: 2019-08-19
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language:
more
Description: "Earnings from Myanmar’s agricultural exports have fallen by around 20 percent since the NLD-government took office in 2015 due to a lack of planning, technological progress and policy direction, insiders said. The fall in export earnings also coincides with a widening trade deficit and dearer exchange dollar exchange rate, which should make the country’s exports cheaper and more attractive to international buyers. Yet, “there has been little change in the agriculture sector and implementation of new policies has not been very effective. Some have even introduced more difficulties for farmers,” said U Soe Win Maung, adviser to Myanmar Pulses, Beans & Sesame Seeds Merchants Association. While the number of loans available by the Myanmar Agricultural Development Bank has increased, for example, farmers face the additional hassle of having to fill up forms and complete other administrative processes. Meanwhile, it is not uncommon for loan disbursements to take longer than expected, so farmers end up receiving the funds after they are needed..."
Creator/author:
Source/publisher: "Myanmar Times"
2018-09-18
Date of entry/update: 2019-08-13
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language:
more
Sub-title: Jim Taylor, CEO and co-founder of Proximity Designs, is on a mission to help Myanmar farmers gain access to finance. The funds will help them pay for seeds to plant crops, labour to till the land, and basic infrastructure, such as irrigation equipment and
Description: "“If you want to help the people of Myanmar, farming is a pretty good place to start. Despite the country’s rapid urbanisation in recent years, the population remains overwhelmingly rural, with 70 percent of people relying on the land for their livelihoods,” said a recent blog post by Proximity Designs. This came after the US government’s Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC) committed US$8 million to Proximity Finance on April 3 to support expanded micro lending to rural Myanmar borrowers, primarily smallholder farmers. The Skoll Foundation, a long-term supporter of Proximity Finance, committed an additional US$2 million of subordinated debt as part of the co-financing package. “By expanding their access to affordable credit, OPIC’s partnership with Proximity Designs will equip smallholder farmers to improve their yields, expand their enterprises, and help their communities thrive,” said OPIC’s acting President and CEO David Bohigian. Proximity Finance, which designs its loans to meet the needs of smallholder farmers, is the microfinance arm of Proximity Designs, a social enterprise that serves the needs of over 100,000 households in 2000 villages, primarily in farming..."
Creator/author:
Source/publisher: "Myanmar Times"
2019-05-13
Date of entry/update: 2019-08-12
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language:
more
Description: "ASEAN Connect EP Myanmar with Agriculture and Fishery products Development (2018)..."
Creator/author:
Source/publisher: Bird Eyeview Network TV
2018-05-22
Date of entry/update: 2019-08-08
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language:
more
Description: "Staying ahead in Myanmar’s changing irrigation market Our irrigation business designs innovative products to meet the rapidly evolving needs of Myanmar’s smallholder farmers. While treadle pump sales declined 16 percent this year, the introduction of our new sprinkler system has contributed significantly in boosting overall sales. Precision irrigation systems (drip and sprinkler products) now account for 52 percent of total sales, up from 28 percent last year, reflecting broader technology trends throughout Myanmar. As urban and out migration have increased so have rural labor shortages, and consequently farmers continue to demand more labor-saving products. By making our precision irrigation systems compatible with mechanized pumps and focusing on technologies that optimize farmers’ limited resources, we are pivoting to meet their demands. As a result, product sales increased to 24,627 units, 17 percent higher than last year. Yetagon Irrigation’s production and delivery methods are evolving alongside its portfolio mix. The manufacturing team is now using foreign parts to assemble products in the South Dagon workshop, speeding up the production process, lowering costs, and improving the quality of our products. We have also refined our four-channel delivery system: agents are now trained to install products, allowing sales representatives and agro dealers to improve their closing rates to 30 percent, while an improved online platform allows us to engage with customers outside the reach of previously existing channels. This year the direct sales force, comprised of 83 sales representatives, held 47,510 product demonstrations and drove the majority of our irrigation product sales (73 percent). Although total product sales have increased, sales of specific products such as the Lotus solar pump were considerably lower than expected. In order to combat this low uptake, we have developed a new sales incentive structure and rent-to-own payment system for the solar pump. These new initiatives will be rolled out in Q1 FY2018..."
Source/publisher: Proximity Designs
2017-06-30
Date of entry/update: 2019-08-05
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language:
Format : pdf
Size: 817.61 KB
more
Description: "This year, we served a total number of 149,042 farm customers through crop loans, irrigation products and agronomy advice - a 34 percent increase from the last fiscal year. • 87,695 of our customers were new, first-time customers. • We had a total of 207,5061 farm households actively using a Proximity product or service – representing approximately 892,000 people.2 • Our total customer base in Myanmar is now over 640,000 farm households (close to 2.75 million people) located across more than ten thousand villages. • Total rural household incomes increased by an estimated over USD 50 million across all of our active customers.3 This translates into USD 5 of rural incomes increased per dollar spent for operations and USD 15 of rural income increased per donor dollar spent for operations. • Our “Yetagon” Irrigation farm tech unit sold 26,051 irrigation products to 11,583 growers who are now using advanced micro irrigation systems. • 51,496 farm households adopted improved agronomic practices or used a service provided by our Farm Advisory Services unit..."
Source/publisher: Proximity Designs
2018-06-30
Date of entry/update: 2019-08-05
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language:
Format : pdf
Size: 1.18 MB
more
Description: "We achieved impressive growth in both our farm advisory and irrigation businesses this quarter. Our product pipeline of newly designed irrigation products, agronomy services and financial services is strong. This quarter we’ve focused on improving both the unit economics of providing our services and increasing the levels of earned income from those services. We’re confident we’ll reach our milestone of 118,000 new customers by 30 June 2018. Our irrigation business is still highly seasonal with Q1 traditionally being our slowest quarter. This year the monsoon season lasted longer than normal, which resulted in sales of only 3,432 units this quarter, still representing a 66 percent, YoY increase. 60 percent of sales are now our micro-irrigation sprinklers and drip systems. A new rent-to-own option was introduced to boost sales of the Lotus solar water pump. Farm Advisory Services advised 25,437 unique farmers in Q1, a dramatic year-on-year increase of 99 percent. This is driven by a big increase in our engagement with groups of farmers in thousands of village demonstrations across 21 rice growing townships. Across our target markets we’ve achieved an 18 percent market penetration already. Our digital channels – designed to lower the unit economics of providing agronomy advice to our customers – added 1,900 users to its fertilizer management SMS service. Proximity Finance – our business unit offering loan products specifically designed for small farmers - now serves 79,838 rural clients. New client acquisition has been slowed by funding constraints related to the Myanmar MFI industry’s ability to hedge dollar denominated debt over the past several quarters. In September, we were able to close a US$5.3 million debt instrument with a local bank. The loan portfolio continues to diversify with only 35 percent of loans dispersed to rice farmers. Repayment rates on loans are very strong (PAR30 is 0.32 percent). Market penetration includes 1,702 villages across 56 townships..."
Source/publisher: Proximity Designs
2017-09-30
Date of entry/update: 2019-08-05
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language:
Format : pdf
Size: 766.57 KB
more
Description: "We had one of our strongest quarters ever, adding 39,673 new customers. As of our mid-year mark, we have added 56,543 farm customers – on target to reaching 118,000 new customers by the end of the fiscal year in June 2018. Our Farm Tech business had a strong second quarter with 3,672 new farm customers purchasing one of our irrigation products - a striking 81.5 percent YoY increase. Earned revenues totaled US$303,000 representing a YoY increase of 66 percent. We launched a new mist micro-irrigation product designed to replace inefficient furrow irrigation on small horticulture plots of half an acre. We sold 138 “Lotus” solarpowered irrigation pumps compared to 28 unit sales during the same period last year. This quarter Ryan McCoy assumed leadership of this business unit. He joins with extensive business and finance experience and holds an MBA from Duke and a finance degree from MIT. Our Farm Advisory Services had another strong quarter with over 20,000 farmers attending a technique training, given average uptake rates of 40-50 percent, we anticipate at least 8,000 new farmers will adopt one or more of our techniques, hitting our target for the quarter (actual adopter numbers are finalized after the rice season). Our field agronomists engaged farmers through 1,283 in-village presentations, which remain our primary service delivery channel. These field agronomists are essential to our mission as they deliver technique advice, pest and disease solutions, and tailored responses to farming challenges throughout the farming cycle. Across our 21 different townships, we’ve reached an estimated 40 percent market penetration among farmers growing rice. Our year-end target is to reach 48,400 new farmers and a total of 96,000 active adopting farmers. Farm lending efforts added 14,709 new customers this quarter. Across our lending operations in 2,065 villages we now have 91,208 active customers. Our portfolio is now USD18.2 million with a PAR 30 delinquency rate of 0.36 percent. Savoeung Chann, our General Manager resigned this quarter after two years of service. A three-person leadership team is overseeing management during the transition period until a replacement is settled. The legal separation of Proximity Finance from Proximity Designs continues to face delays from the government but is expected to be completed by April 2018. Economic research efforts this quarter focused on deepening our analysis of the current situation in Rakhine State and researching options for addressing the crisis of 650,000 refugees who fled to Bangladesh. As conditions in the camps become more extreme with increased international pressure and ongoing instability, the threat of a long-running internal, regional and international conflict is growing. It is uncertain if either Bangladesh or Myanmar would agree to accept large numbers of refugees as citizens, even with resettlement aid. Reversing the damage will take a multipronged effort beyond the ability of any single country..."
Source/publisher: Proximity Designs
2017-12-31
Date of entry/update: 2019-08-05
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language:
Format : pdf
Size: 723.76 KB
more
Description: "Overall, we added 15,087 new customers during the quarter, which was well below our target. A combination of regulatory disruptions in our lending operations and depressed demand due to price increases in our irrigation business contributed to this disappointing result. Year-to-date, we have added 71,630 new customers. During this quarter, we launched one new agronomy service and have design teams working on two new services. Farm Tech We sold 6,543 irrigation products this quarter, led by our drip and sprinkler products. Year-to-date sales are up 13 percent over last year and we project being able to reach our year-end target of 28,000 sales. However, this quarter’s sales came in below our targets due to the effects of a significant price increase we introduced on 1 January 2018 and some new competition in the market. Sales revenues for the quarter totaled US$218,000. We have 86 sales reps (who achieved a 15 percent closing rate), 96 agro-dealers in our network and 220 active village agents who helped 1,622 customers install their new irrigation products. We’ve always viewed our strategy as a ‘market-maker’ for micro irrigation in Myanmar — and for the first time, we’re seeing several local irrigation manufacturers and sales organizations enter the market. This has led us to focus on introducing new irrigation technologies — such as our ‘mister’ product and low-cost, solar-powered irrigation pump. To meet our affordability goals, we’re making our Yangon manufacturing plant operations more efficient and sourcing more components from low-cost manufacturers. Agronomy Services During Q3 we added 6,217 new farmers, a 54 percent increase over the same period last year. These farmers adopted at least one of the crop production techniques we promote across Myanmar’s Delta and Dry Zone regions. The most popular service this quarter was advice on improving fertilizer application and management. Year-to-date, 44,104 new farmers have been acquired and we anticipate reaching our target of 48,400 by the end of our fiscal year in June. Since 2016, we’ve served 101,950 rice farmers. The primary sales and service delivery channel is through village group meetings organized by our 98 field agronomists. During this quarter, 1,954 village group meetings were held, attended by 19,997 farmers. At the initial meetings, we’re able to achieve 30 percent adoption rates. Over several seasons in a given township, this rate typically increases to over 50 percent. To lower our unit costs to serve, we have introduced an SMS messaging service. This quarter, we have 6,208 digital subscribers. We trialled IVR (Interactive Voice Response) messaging with a leading technology company but came to the conclusion that Myanmar’s telecom infrastructure is not ready for it..."
Source/publisher: Proximity Designs
2018-03-31
Date of entry/update: 2019-08-05
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language:
Format : pdf
Size: 1.28 MB
more
Description: "Our platform offerings revolve around three core service areas: 1) the provision of improved agronomy practices/skills, 2) access to farm loans, and 3) affordable micro-irrigation systems. This quarter, 15,525 total new farm customers used one or more of these services. +Farm Advisory Services: This quarter, a total of 11,416 farmers used one of our agronomy services, of which 7,534 were new customers, meeting 99 percent of our total customer target for the quarter. We are currently targeting an ambitious goal of a total of 51,000 new adopters by the end of the year. We offer the following advisory services: 1) rice seed cleaning, 2) precision planting (for rice seed) 3) nutrient (e.g. fertilizer) management, 4) soil health management, and 5) crop protection services (to control pests & disease). We currently employ 106 field agronomists who drive outreach and growth. Our field agronomists are launching our new Soil Health Diagnostic Service, offered at a price of USD4 per acre. To date, we’ve sold 477 tests, 76% lower than our target. Our agronomy team has never launched this kind of fee-for-service before, and is learning it takes up more field staff time than originally estimated. +Micro-irrigation: This quarter is typically a slow time for irrigation product sales, as the period marks the end of the monsoon season in Myanmar. 1,655 new farmers purchased one of our micro-irrigation products, representing 16 percent growth year-on-year, and 91 percent of the quarter’s target. We are targeting 10 percent annual growth this year or 12,743 farm customers. This year, our irrigation product offerings include: micro-sprinkler systems, mister systems, drip systems, lay flat hose and a treadle pump. We sold a total of 3,062 units of irrigation products, representing an 8 percent y/y decrease, and earned sales revenue of USD 78,000 for the quarter. After 15 years of selling various models of our original foot-operated pump, we are now selling only one treadle pump model this season. In recent years, the market has shifted with the influx of affordable and portable motorized pumps from China replacing the more labor-intensive treadle pumps. Thus, our products today focus on advancing irrigation efficiency in water use. This quarter, we launched our newest product – a “Starter” Mister that customers can install for USD 10 for 1/10 acre . We are seeing strong demand largely due to the affordable price point. We have a very capable, new General Manager leading the irrigation business, Seng Nu Pan. We are reducing our in-house manufacturing work and shifting to sourcing components from new, higher quality, local suppliers as well as importing more parts from Thailand and China. Assembly is still done in Myanmar..."
Source/publisher: Proximity Designs
2018-09-30
Date of entry/update: 2019-08-04
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language:
Format : pdf
Size: 536.19 KB
more
Description: "Overall, we added 21,841 new farmers this quarter to our Yetagon farm services platform—slightly below our target of 22,954. Our farm credit services and irrigation products saw strong y/y growth, but our agronomy services missed our targets largely due to the slower than expected roll-out of our new revenue-generating soil testing service. Our growth target this year is 82,000 new customers. Year to date, we’ve added 37,097 new farmers to a growing active user base of 214,215 farm customers. Our operating model is shifting to us organizing more around our customer facing services and less on our separate business units. Current Farm Services Offered: + Quality Seeds and Precision Planting: Rice seed cleaning services have been our most popular agronomy service over the past several years. In many of the villages where we have introduced this technique, we’ve achieved over 50 percent adoption within several seasons—a very high rate for a new innovation. Farmers are typically able to achieve yield increases of 20-30 baskets per acre, which translates to yield improvement of 10 percent. Over the past three years we’ve been able to increase rice yields on over 430,000 acres. + Soil Health (testing) and Nutrient Management Services: During this quarter, we formally launched a new Soil Testing service that provides plot-specific and actionable fertilizer recommendations before the planting season to help rice farmers improve fertilizer efficiency and increase crop yields. We sold 1,516 tests to farmers in Myanmar’s lowland Delta region. This was well below our target of 2,530 tests. Demand appears to be strong, but internally the complexity of providing the new service slowed down the roll-out. We’re confident these problems can be solved quickly and will expand the testing service to the upland Dry Zone region in Q3. For our more general fertilizer application recommendations delivered through village meetings, we achieved 6,524 rice farmer adopters..."
Source/publisher: Proximity Designs
2018-12-31
Date of entry/update: 2019-08-04
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language:
Format : pdf
Size: 769.7 KB
more
Description: "Between April 2012 and March 2014 ADRA implemented a project with UKaid funding to reduce the poverty of 12,600 people within 15 villages of Pakokku Township. This is the project video report..."
Creator/author:
Source/publisher: ADRA UK
2015-09-08
Date of entry/update: 2019-08-02
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language:
more
Description: "China feeds 22 percent of the world’s population with only seven percent of the world's cultivated land. What's the secret? Find out in the latest episode of our special series "China's Mega Projects"..."
Creator/author:
Source/publisher: CGTN
2019-03-30
Date of entry/update: 2019-07-28
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language:
more
Description: "For years, Kyin San, like many rice farmers in Myanmar, worried that her land would be confiscated for large-scale development, as had so many other farms over the years. But now, Kyin Sun says, farmers are no longer hesitant to negotiate with the government to settle disputes. Along with 10,000 other farmers in the Hlae Ku Township, Kyin Sun has joined the Agriculture and Farmer Federation of Myanmar (AFFM), part of the Confederation of Trade Unions–Myanmar (CTUM)..."
Creator/author:
Source/publisher: Solidarity Center
2017-05-02
Date of entry/update: 2019-07-27
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language:
more
Description: "Adopting proper and systematic seed production practices is vital to producing high-quality rice seeds. Quality seeds command a higher price in the market, leading to increased income for the farmers. The capacity of resource-poor farmers in producing quality seeds is strengthened through training activities conducted by the International Rice Research Institute (http://irri.org through the Stress-tolerant Rice for Vulnerable Environments project) in selected unfavorable rice-growing areas in Myanmar http://irri.org/our-work/locations/my... To contribute in improving farm productivity and livelihoods in the country, IRRI is working together with the Myanmar Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation, and agencies such as the AVSI Foundation, Radanar Ayar, Welhungerhilfe, and Relief International..."
Creator/author:
Source/publisher: International Rice Research Institute (IRRI)
2018-06-11
Date of entry/update: 2019-07-27
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language:
more
Description: "“I won’t do agricultural work. As I will be a graduate, I will do work which is suitable and worth my educational level. We can rent out our lands to uneducated and landless villagers who can only do agricultural work.” – A 20-year old university student in FGD, Sagaing Region This was the decisive reply I received from a university student in Si Pin Gyi village in Kalay Myo, when I asked if he would be a farmer like his father.[1] He is not the only one who doesn’t want to do agricultural work as his career. Nowadays, to be a farmer is like donkey-work for most youth, especially for the educated ones. In my interviews in the rural areas, interviewees said that they found agricultural work to be very tiring as well as low in income and value – particularly when comparing this with their educational qualifications. The agricultural sector plays a vital role in Myanmar’s economy. According to the Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the agricultural sector in Myanmar contributes 37.8 percent of the gross domestic product (GDP), accounts for 25 to 30 percent of total export earnings and provides jobs for 70 percent of the labour. It is significant that agricultural work has historically provided labourers in rural areas with numerous job opportunities. Moreover, according to the villagers I interviewed, there are now increasingly higher numbers and different types of other jobs available in their villages. The other option for them nowadays also includes migration, both internal and external. Due to my experiences with research in rural areas, I came to question whether the youth, the next generation of farmers, would choose to do agricultural work if they had other career options. Last year, I went to the Delta region for research on the socio-economic conditions 10 years after Cyclone Nargis. I conducted qualitative research in 10 villages in the Delta region, doing key informant interviews and focus group discussions. There, I found out that many people – especially the youth – had left their villages, migrating for work. About half of the youth population in each village migrate as there are no other local job opportunities except agricultural work. In some villages, there are youth running small businesses, such as loudspeaker rental jobs. “I don’t want to do agricultural work in farmlands with mud. I feel dirty and exhausted to do that. I wish I could have a chance to live and work in Yangon.” – 18-year old boy from a village, Ayeyarwaddy Region He has a small snack shop in the village and is also seeking new opportunities in order to get a good job in Yangon. Parents from the rural areas often do not want their children to do exhausting work in the mud like them; many try to support their children’s education for a future job with better working conditions, such as working in a company, or in foreign countries..."
Creator/author:
Source/publisher: TEACIRCLEOXFORD
2019-07-22
Date of entry/update: 2019-07-27
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language:
more
Description: "A city boy from Singapore helping rice farmers in Myanmar double their yield? Here's how David Chen, a molecular biology graduate, does it, with innovation and patience. For more, SUBSCRIBE to CNA INSIDER! https://www.youtube.com/cnainsider Some farmers who use the hybrid rice seeds that David's company develops have seen the yield of their crops double. But not everyone is willing to give the new technology a try. With Myanmar being the Asian country most affected by the effects of climate change in the region, time is running out for these farmers to take action. Watch the full episode here: https://cna.asia/2Gaajh1 READ the full story: https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/... ..."
Creator/author:
Source/publisher: CNA Insider
2019-07-13
Date of entry/update: 2019-07-27
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language:
more
Description: "A free app on farmer San San Hla's smartphone is her new weapon in the war against the dreaded stem borer moth that blighted her rice paddy in southern Myanmar for the last two years..."
Creator/author:
Source/publisher: AFP news agency
2018-02-17
Date of entry/update: 2019-07-27
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language:
more
Description: They say their crops and livestock have suffered.
Creator/author:
Source/publisher: Radio Free Asia
2015-07-14
Date of entry/update: 2019-07-25
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language:
more
Description: "“We wanted to treat people as customers, not as aid beneficiaries. It’s about giving people choice and therefore dignity. We don’t decide what people need, they tell us through the marketplace whether our products are valuable.” Debbie Aung Din, Co-Founder Proximity Designs Until two years ago, Myanmar was very isolated with no access to things that most farmers around the world had, such as credit, proper equipment and roads to get goods to market. In this Skoll Foundation visit to Myanmar, Proximity Designs co-founders Jim Taylor and Debbie Aung Din show how their organization has helped cause a 15 percent increase in rice yield. Before Proximity Designs, farmers spent up to eight hours a day carrying buckets of water to irrigate their fields. Now, with a low-cost pump operated by feet, they can water their crops in two hours, and make up to triple their previous income. Watch and get a glimpse of the Proximity pumps in action; see farmers getting hands-on training, and finally, meet a farmer who can’t stop smiling as he shows off his new tractor. It’s a tractor he can afford because of Proximity’s products and services, and he’s proud. Smallholder farmers are often trapped in a life of subsistence, weathering crop failure and other setbacks on their own. Neither government nor foreign donors provide information, skills and tools. Private companies overlook smallholders and rely on large producers to supply their customers. Jim and Debbie Aung Din Taylor met as 20-year-old community activists working to fight poverty in the Mississippi Delta, where they learned that before anyone can help people, they must live with them, and truly understand them. They took this philosophy with them when they moved to Burma in 2004 to found an organization they could scale up quickly to help the 4 million rice farmers struggling to lift themselves out of subsistence and poverty. That organization, which became Proximity Designs, designs and delivers products, services, and policy solutions to increase productivity and improve incomes. Its $13 plastic water pump, the “baby elephant,” doesn’t just replace sprinkler cans or provide an affordable alternative to metal pumps, it increases yields and enhances food security even in a debilitating political environment. PD designs and sells affordable foot pumps, drip irrigation sets, and water storage containers; offers financing services for those unable to afford upfront costs of products or seeds, and provides advisory services focused on helping farmers improve productivity, incomes, and resilience..."
Creator/author:
Source/publisher: Skoll.org via "Proximity Designs"
2015-03-26
Date of entry/update: 2019-07-25
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language:
more
Description: "After late start, near-average monsoon rains facilitated plantings and early crop development Rice exports in 2019 forecast at above-average level Wholesale prices of “Emata” rice increased seasonally in June but remained below last year’s levels Persistent conflicts severely affect large numbers of people After late start, near-average monsoon rains facilitated plantings and crop development Planting of the predominantly rainfed main season paddy crop, which accounts for more than 80 percent of the annual production, normally starts in May, with the onset of the monsoon rains, and continues until July. In 2019, the monsoon rains started in the second dekad of June, almost three weeks later than the normal onset. Since then, near‑average rainfall favoured planting operations and improved vegetation conditions of germinating crops in the main paddy producing areas. Between May and June, well below-average rains were reported in some important rice producing areas, including Sagaing and Mandalay regions (both located in the central dry zone and in part irrigated) and Shan State. Rainfed parts in these areas have already exhibited below-normal vegetation conditions, rising concerns on the impact on yield potential (see VHI map). A short period of torrential rains in the first dekad of July increased river levels, causing flooding and minor crop losses in localized areas of Kachin, Rakhine, Chin and Mon states, and Bago and Sagain regions. Overall, the area planted is estimated to be close to the previous year’s high level supported by strong domestic demand and the effects of the official programmes promoting rice production. The 2019 secondary season crops, for harvest in the second quarter of 2020, will be planted at the end of the year. Planting of the 2019 main maize crop started in June and is expected to continue until August. Below-average rains in June in key producing areas, including Shan State and Sagain Region, caused some delays to planting operations. However, if rains improve in the next weeks, it is still possible that planted area reaches the previous year’s high level. Maize is expected to be a preferred crop by farmers due to strong demand from the domestic feed market and from China (Mainland). Some concerns exist due to localized damages caused by Fall Armyworm (FAW). According to the latest information from Myanmar’s Plant Protection Division, so far, the FAW affected only 5 200 hectares or about 1 percent of the 2019 main crop, mostly in Shan State and Bago and Sagaing regions. Rice exports in 2019 forecast at above‑average level Rice exports in 2019 are forecast at 2.4 million tonnes, well above the five-year average, on expectations of ample exportable availabilities and increased demand, particularly from China (Mainland). In 2019, the two countries have signed some agreements aiming at facilitating trade. The country exports also small quantities of maize. In the 2019/20 marketing year (July/June), maize exports are forecast to be close to the previous record level, reflecting the continuing strong demand from China (Mainland). Wholesale prices of “Emata” rice increased seasonally in June Wholesale prices of “Emata” rice (known as “Indica” rice), the most consumed variety in the country, registered steady declines between March and May 2019, weighed by the 2018 bumper harvests and lower demand for exports. In June, prices increased by 6 percent in line with seasonal trends, reflecting tightening market availabilities. Overall, in June, prices were below their year-earlier levels. Persistent conflicts severely affect large numbers of people Persistent conflicts since the resurgence of violence in Rakhine State in late August 2017 triggered large-scale population displacement. According to the latest data from UNOCHA (May 2019), an estimated 160 000 people were internally displaced in Rakhine State and 106 500 in Kachin and northern Shan states. In Rakhine State, the livelihoods of the affected population have been further exacerbated by limitations of movement. In addition, as of May 2019, an estimated 910 000 refugees from Myanmar sought refuge in Cox’s Bazar District in Bangladesh due to the ongoing conflict. Most IDPs are affected by high levels of food insecurity as the conflict is hampering the delivery of adequate humanitarian assistance and impending the restoration of local livelihoods. The July floods affected large numbers of people, displaced at least 21 000 individuals, resulted in losses of stored crops and seeds as well as small livestock..."
Source/publisher: reliefweb via Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
2019-07-19
Date of entry/update: 2019-07-24
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language:
Format : pdf
Size: 145.37 KB
more
Description: "To improve farmer productivity and help combat the cycle of debt, IRRI, through the Stress-Tolerant Rice for Vulnerable Environments or STRIVE project, with funding from USAID, has trained 26 farmers from Htantabin township Myanmar on how to produce good-quality seeds in their own farms..."
Creator/author:
Source/publisher: International Rice Research Institute (IRRI)
2017-01-26
Date of entry/update: 2019-07-23
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language:
more
Description: ''Communication for Sustainable Livelihoods and Food Security in Myanmar...''
Creator/author: Dr. Naoya Fujimoto, U Htary Naing, U Thaung Win, U Soe Khaing, U Aung Than, U Than Choung, Khin Thuzar Nwe
Source/publisher: ABC International Development
2017-04-06
Date of entry/update: 2019-01-30
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language: Burmese (မြန်မာဘာသာ)
more
Description: ''Communication for Sustainable Livelihoods and Food Security in Myanmar..''
Creator/author: Khin Thuzar Nwe, Daw Tin Nwe, U Zaw Min, U Kyi Moe, U Thein Htay, U Myint Aung, Daw Win Mar Oo, U Tun Aung Kyaw
Source/publisher: ABC International Development
2017-04-06
Date of entry/update: 2019-01-30
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language: Burmese (မြန်မာဘာသာ)
more
Description: Communication for Sustainable Livelihoods and Food Security in Myanmar.
Creator/author: Khin Thuzar Nwe, Cho Ei Ei Zin, Ko Soe Thura, U Saw Shall War, U Myo Chit, Khun Kyaw Zin Htoo, Daw Latt Latt Khaing, Dr. Hla Kyi
Source/publisher: ABC International Development
2017-04-06
Date of entry/update: 2019-01-30
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language: Burmese (မြန်မာဘာသာ)
more
Description: ''Specific research needs relating to crop improvement for drought resistance must be considered within the broader context of a total agricultural research and extension strategy. At the simplest, the goals of such a strategy are to develop appropriate technologies for increasing the efficiency of food and fiber production while maintaining the long-term stability of the land resource. Whatever the goals, implementation of new technologies ultimately rests with millions of individual farmers. Each farmer and his farm is unique. How do we prescribe a technology that is relevant to the land, labor, capital, and management resources of each individual? If, given a specified minimum set of soil-crop-weather and management data, it were possible to predict the performance of a particular crop system at a particular location, then it would be possible to predict an appropriate technology. This is an attainable objective, but it requires major shifts in the prevailing logic and methods of agricultural research (Nix 1968, 1976, 1979). Basically it requires a shift in emphasis away from the currently dominant reductionist or analytical approaches to holistic or synthesizing approaches. These two approaches are complementary rather than competitive. Adopting a systems approach emphasizes the need for interdisciplinary teamwork. Knowledge and insight from the range of biological, physical, social, and economic disciplines become necessary. It formalizes what is known about crop production systems — their more important components, processes, and feedback mechanisms — and helps to identify significant, subtle constraints. Most importantly, the possible consequences (ecological, agronomic, economic) of introducing a new technology can be evaluated by using modeling and simulation techniques and field experiments designed to test model predictions...''
Source/publisher: International Rice Research Institute (IRRI)
2018-12-25
Date of entry/update: 2019-01-25
Grouping: Individual Documents
Category: Rice, Other crops
Language: English
Format : pdf
Size: 4.74 MB
more
Description: ''It’s midday in Ashe Nge Toe and work is winding down for the day. U Sein Htun and some neighbors are gathered around a table in the shade under his house to chat over cups of green tea and tea leaf salad. In his front yard, the gains of the day’s labor — red chilies — have already been spread out across a large tarp to dry in the sun. U Sein Htun has been a farmer for 33 years. Like most farmers in the area, his main crops are chili and onions. U Sein Htun also owns two paddy threshers which he rents out in return for baskets of rice, and he’s saving to purchase a tractor and plow, which he says he’ll be able to rent out for far more...''
Source/publisher: Proximity Designs
2018-09-18
Date of entry/update: 2019-01-25
Grouping: Individual Documents
Category: Rice, Other crops
Language: English
more
Description: "In the lower Ayeyarwaddy Delta of Myanmar, rice farmers experience floods in the monsoon and salt intrusion during the dry season. New high-yielding, short-duration varieties are usually not available, and so farmers have limited options to combat flooding or saline intrusion. The International Rice Research Institute, through the Livelihood and Food Security Trust Fund Project of the United Nations Office for Project Services, has introduced farmers' participatory varietal selection (PVS) of high-yielding varieties for favorable areas and stress-tolerant varieties for the salt- and flood-prone areas. This video showcases the PVS steps as done by farmers in Labutta Township, Myanmar. Some farmers share their experiences and benefits gained from joining the PVS trials. The video also features the top four selected varieties in the three townships involved in the project in the 2012 and 2013 wet seasons, and the 2012-13 dry season."
Source/publisher: International Rice Research Institute (IRRI)
2014-07-09
Date of entry/update: 2018-12-25
Grouping: Individual Documents
Category: Rice
Language: Burmese
more
Description: "Myanmar has a predominantly agricultural economy based on rice production, with 32% of the total rice area composed of unfavorable lowland areas. Salinity-affected rice-farming areas account for 2% of these unfavorable areas—almost 110,000 hectares—spread across different states and regions. The largest salinity-affected area is the Ayeyarwaddy Delta (59,818 ha), followed by Rakhine (28,600 ha), Taintharyi (7,573 ha), Yangon (7,346 ha), Mon (5,346 ha), and Mandalay (190 ha). Since 2011, the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), through the Consortium for Unfavorable Rice Environments (CURE), has been working with Myanmar’s Department of Agricultural Research (DAR) to develop suitable rice varieties for these challenging areas. Their fruitful collaboration has resulted in successfully developing and distributing to farmers seeds of three salinity-tolerant varieties—Sangnakhan Sin Thwe Latt, Pyi Myanmar Sein, and Shwe Asean. Still, a team of researchers from IRRI and DAR continues to work hand in hand to identify new salinity-tolerant varieties and enhance rice production in the salinity-affected rice areas of Myanmar..."
Source/publisher: International Rice Research Institute (IRRI)
2016-09-09
Date of entry/update: 2018-12-09
Grouping: Individual Documents
Category: Rice
Language: English
more
Description: "Cropping Patterns/ Water Management S Effects of Long-term "Rice-Fallow-Rice" and "Rice-Pulses-Rice" on Rice yield and soil properties (2001 - 2010): Black gram fixed 18-73kg N2/ha; 9- 23% yield increase S Effects Of Crop Residues on "Rice-Fallow-Rice" cropping system: Early tillage and Late tillage (without straw, with straw, with straw burn): Treatment of incorporating rice straw soon after rice harvest gave the best yield S Effects of Water Management systems on rice yields / Drought screening methods: Continuous flooding, Alternate Wet and Dry, Irrigation 2-week intervals ; Irrigation at 2 wk intervalreduced water requirement 26-39% less than the AWD, not yield affected..."
Creator/author: Khin Lay Swe
Source/publisher: Yezin Agricultural University
2013-05-31
Date of entry/update: 2018-12-08
Grouping: Individual Documents
Category: Rice
Language: English
Format : pdf
Size: 661.77 KB
more
Description: "Myanmar has a predominantly agricultural economy based on rice production, with 32% of the total rice area composed of unfavorable lowland areas. Salinity-affected rice-farming areas account for 2% of these unfavorable areas—almost 110,000 hectares—spread across different states and regions. The largest salinity-affected area is the Ayeyarwaddy Delta (59,818 ha), followed by Rakhine (28,600 ha), Taintharyi (7,573 ha), Yangon (7,346 ha), Mon (5,346 ha), and Mandalay (190 ha). Since 2011, the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), through the Consortium for Unfavorable Rice Environments (CURE), has been working with Myanmar’s Department of Agricultural Research (DAR) to develop suitable rice varieties for these challenging areas. Their fruitful collaboration has resulted in successfully developing and distributing to farmers seeds of three salinity-tolerant varieties—Sangnakhan Sin Thwe Latt, Pyi Myanmar Sein, and Shwe Asean. Still, a team of researchers from IRRI and DAR continues to work hand in hand to identify new salinity-tolerant varieties and enhance rice production in the salinity-affected rice areas of Myanmar..."
Source/publisher: International Rice Research Institute (IRRI)
2016-09-09
Date of entry/update: 2018-12-05
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language: English
more
Description: "Abstract The paper analyses factors influencing the agricultural adaptation practices in embankment and non-embankment areas of lower Ayeyarwady delta based on the information collected through a survey of 240 sampled households mostly practicing rice farming. Farmers in both areas have adopted several agronomic practices to adapt with rainfall variability and soil and water salinization due to sea level rise. A multivariate probit model employed to estimate the simultaneous interdependent decisions by farm households explained the factors influencing the adaptation of rice farmers to respond to the rainfall variability and salinity. Irrespective of correlation signs, the most significant determinants in adaptations of non-embankment area are farm size, farm income, non-farm income, training and lowland followed by educational level, family agricultural labor, land ownership, farming experience and the institutional credit. In the embankment area, five variables out of 12; namely, farm size, farm income, training frequency, credit and lowland are most influential on the adoption of agricultural adaptation practices. The poor linkage of extension and training programs reflected the poor lowland soil condition and cultural practices. Although double cropping of rice in monsoon and summer has provided higher cropping intensity and farm income, it has promoted the soil salinity and environmental unsustainability. Policy instruments are therefore suggested for an effective implementation of soil conservation and integrated farming system in lowland rainfed rice-based cropping system."
Creator/author:
Source/publisher: Earth Science & Climatic Change
2015-00-00
Date of entry/update: 2018-03-05
Grouping: Individual Documents
Category: Rice
Language:
more
Description: "Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and Myanmar?s agricultural research department are set to implement a genomic rice breeding initiative. U Naing Kyi Win, director general of the Department of Agricultural Research (DAR) under the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation (MOALI), and JICA signed a Record of Discussions (R/D) in Nay Pyi Taw on January 30 to launch a five-year project to strengthen rice breeding based on genomic technology. The representative from JICA was Kenichi Shishido, director general of the DAR. This JICA-funded project will introduce paddy genetic breeding to the country in order to develop high-yield and pest and disease-tolerant rice varieties. In the five-year span, research institutions in both countries will carry out joint activities to create promising rice lines suitable to rain-fed lowlands and uplands, as well as to enhance Myanmar?s existing breeding method. On the Japanese side, the agriculture faculty at Kyushu University and the bioscience and biotechnology centre at Nagoya University are involved..."
Creator/author:
Source/publisher: "Myanmar Times"
Date of entry/update: 2018-02-06
Grouping: Individual Documents
Category: Rice
Language:
more
Description: "... Food Security Policy Project Components: • Value chains and livelihoods research • Mon State rural livelihoods and economy survey • Fish value chain • Other product and input value chains assessments • Policy Advising (e.g. Mon State Rural Development Strategy) • Training and Outreach..."
Creator/author: Ben Belton, Aung Hein, Kyan Htoo, Seng Kham, Paul Dorosh, Emily Schmidt
Source/publisher: Myanmar Development Resource Institute (MDRI)
2015-05-05
Date of entry/update: 2016-04-23
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language: English
Format : pdf
Size: 3.55 MB
more
Description: This Background Paper is an integral part of the Diagnostic Assessment. It involves an assessment of the Myanmar rice value chain within the context of the Myanmar rice industry. Special focus is paid to its structure and performance, dynamics, and future prospects. Also included is a consideration of its weaknesses and constraints that had influenced the development of the industry as well as an evaluation of the prospect of improving the value chain and consequently the industry and suggesting crucial steps that should be taken for the short game and the long game. Basically, the report integrates the findings from intensive literature review and desk research coupled with observations and interviews conducted during field visits in October and November 2012 and supplemented by persona communication with key players in the public and private sectors as well as civil society at various levels of the rice value chain.
Creator/author: Larry C.Y. Wong, Eh Mywe Aye Wai
Source/publisher: Myanmar Development Resource Institute - Centre for Economic and Social Development (MDRI-CESD)
2013-03-00
Date of entry/update: 2016-04-11
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language: English
Format : pdf
Size: 1.74 MB
more
Description: "The Government of Myanmar has positioned agricultural development as one of seven key pillars supporting and enabling inclusive and sustained economic growth. To achieve agricultural development, the Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation (MoAI), with technical assistance provided by the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), developed the Myanmar Rice Sector Development Strategy (MRSDS) that seeks to boost rice production and thus better ensure food self-sufficiency and a larger share in the international rice trade for the country. The MRSDS is anchored on improving farm productivity, raising rice farmers? incomes, and enhancing the global competitiveness of Myanmar?s rice industry. Higher farm incomes, so crucial to poverty reduction and sustained food security, rely on increased productivity. Moreover, improved farm productivity enables affordable food supplies and competitive wage rates across the economy, thereby generating employment that enables the absorption of plentiful rural labor in off-farm and non-farm occupations, thereby accelerating the growth and modernization of the economy as a whole..."
Source/publisher: Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation, Myanmar via International Rice Research Institute
2015-05-00
Date of entry/update: 2015-09-25
Grouping: Individual Documents
Category: Rice
Language: English
Format : pdf
Size: 4.14 MB
more
Description: Abstract: "This paper compares the development of the rice economy in Myanmar with Vietnam?s. The rice economies in the two countries show a stark contrast in terms of productivity. To account for the yield gap between them, this paper considers the impacts of not only price policies but also production technology. As there is no clear deterioration or improvement in the terms of trade for rice producers in the two countries, the widening yield gap might be attributable to differences in technological changes. It is implied that Myanmar needs more public investments in agriculture, especially in irrigation and breeding of high-yield varieties seeds, in order to upgrade production technology. The insufficient public investments in the agricultural sector in Myanmar might be due to lower marginal return to such investments, which in turn is related to the allocation mechanism of the state budget; the higher the delegation of budget to local governments, the higher the marginal return to public investments could be. A policy recommendation is more delegation of agricultural budget to local governments..."
Creator/author: Koji KUBO
Source/publisher: Bangkok Research Center (IDE-Jetro) Research Report No. 10
2013-00-00
Date of entry/update: 2015-09-25
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language: English
Format : pdf
Size: 302.97 KB
more
Description: Key findings: Price fluctuations are common in agricultural markets. However, rice price volatility in Myanmar is more profound than in neighboring rice net-exporter countries like Cambodia, Vietnam, and Thailand. The economic liberalization in 2004 removed local trade barriers and this reduced risks and price volatility in the domestic rice market. Even if Myanmar?s price fluctuations decreased in recent years (compared to the mid-2000s), it remains high. Beyond price volatility, rice prices have risen by 41% between 2009 and 2013. This is much higher than that of rice exporters in neighboring countries like Thailand and Cambodia. The high concentration of the paddy harvest in November and December is the main cause of rice price volatility. Nearly 70% of paddy is harvested in just two months of the monsoon season. This results into sharp price drops from December to January and spike-ups between May and October. Production in dry season is small due to a lack of rice varieties with different harvesting periods, growth durations, and appropriate irrigation. The rice market is fragmented and weakened due to poor roads and low phone coverage. There is also inaccurate information on rice production, consumption, trade, and stocks. Due to the latter, farmers, millers, exporters, and the government often overreact when there are minor price changes. This ignites volatility even further, given that private stocks are too small to buffer price fluctuations. Poor diversification of export markets also contribute to price volatility. Most of the formal rice exports go to Africa with stable prices. The informal cross-border export to China, in contrast, has been highly unpredictable. The recent closure of informal trade with China is an example of such unpredictability.
Source/publisher: World Bank (Agriculture Global Practice East Asia and Pacific Region)
2014-10-04
Date of entry/update: 2014-11-26
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language: English, Burmese/ မြန်မာဘာသာ (executive summary)
Format : pdf
Size: 2.91 MB
more
Description: Conclusions: "Myanmar has new global and regional rice market opportunities. Should they be captured, higher rice exports could eventually stimulate agricultural growth, which in turn could reduce poverty and boost shared prosperity. Better export opportunities and more stable prices, to which a more efficient export system could contribute, would trigger an increase of rice sector productivity and eventually overall agricultural productivity, given the large share of rice in Myanmar?s planted area, production, trade, and consumption. Higher agricultural productivity would also help the landless, who often work as seasonal farm workers. With more and better quality paddy, the milling industry would accelerate its modernization, creating non-farm jobs and stimulating economic growth. Net buyers of rice in rural and urban areas would benefit from a larger variety and improved quality of rice, potentially at lower prices. 109. Yet several big challenges lie ahead. Strong competition from other exporters and constantly rising demands for the safety and quality of rice on world markets puts pressure on Myanmar?s rice sector. While field yields are only half of those realized by other exporters, significantly expanding the current exportable surplus will take time and can only be realized if rice farming profitability is considerably increased. With reduced carryover stocks, rice exports in 2013/14 are currently trailing the same period in 2012/13, illustrating the importance of addressing structural weaknesses along the value chain if Myanmar is to become a reliable rice exporter. A significant increase in exports also necessitates that Myanmar diversify both its overseas markets and the quality of its rice exports. 110. Taken as a whole, the policy recommendations will go a long way towards improving the prospects for more profitable rice farming. Policymakers need to understand that the rice milling sector and exporters also need a conducive policy environment without an anti-export bias to ensure that their performance is upgraded to become internationally competitive. While public spending programs take time to materialize, policies can have an immediate effect. A small change of policy or even its clear communication and implementation can have a lasting positive impact without any cost to stretched national or local budgets. With this in mind, policies should be considered the most effective vehicle for attracting private investment in the rice value chain in the short run and should be utilized strategically. 111. With more consistent enabling economic policies, alignment of public investment with the strategic objective of export promotion is the key to the long-term prospects for rice exports. The focus should change from producing and selling more low-quality rice to producing and selling increased quantities of different qualities of rice and doing so more efficiently. This strategy would allow Myanmar?s rice value chain participants to earn higher incomes, capture the growing market of higher value rice, and diversify risks in different markets..."
Source/publisher: World Bank
2014-02-28
Date of entry/update: 2014-07-02
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language: English
Format : pdf pdf
Size: 904.39 KB 1.6 MB
more
Description: Rice research... Myanmar and rice... Myanmar-IRRI collaboration... Accomplishments... Table 1. Rice varieties released in Myanmar, 1966 to 1997.... Table 2. Myanma participants in IRRI?s training programs, 1969-97.... IRRI in Myanmar
Source/publisher: IRRI
Date of entry/update: 2012-10-06
Grouping: Individual Documents
Category: Rice
Language: English
Format : pdf
Size: 21.29 KB
more
Description: This is a study of the rice economy in Myanmar. It seeks to identify barriers and bottlenecks that are hindering growth and depressing value in a sector that must play a central role in alleviating the extreme poverty that currently afflicts an expanding proportion of rural households.
Creator/author: David O. Dapice, Thomas J. Vallely, Ben Wilkinson
Source/publisher: Harvard Kennedy School - Ash Center
2010-07-21
Date of entry/update: 2012-08-21
Grouping: Individual Documents
Category: Rice
Language: English
more
Description: "From his thatch-roofed hut, 62-year-old farmer Tint Sein studied the bucolic scene anxiously. Trapped in debt to black-market lenders, he says he has begun to skip meals to save money for his family of four. The emerald-green rice fields that sustained generations of his clan are no longer profitable. The arithmetic is remorseless. The 10-acre spread earns him an average $4 daily, but his costs are $6, yielding a bottom-line loss of $2, day after day. "I cannot live on this income," he says. That leaves Tint Sein a painful choice: Abandon the farm to join the swelling ranks of Myanmar?s landless farmers - or hope that his nation?s new reformist government will revive the farm belt?s fortunes. Change is sweeping Myanmar. In 12 months of reforms, the former military junta has embraced an economic and political opening that has won praise from Washington to Tokyo. But change is coming either too slowly, or in the wrong forms, to the place where the great majority of Myanmar?s people live: the farming heartland, which once led the world in rice exports before withering under half a century of military dictatorship..."
Source/publisher: Reuters
2012-08-09
Date of entry/update: 2012-08-16
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language: English
more
Description: Abstract: "This paper try to analyze unique data set for rice producing agricultural households in some selected areas of Bago and Yangon divisions to examine the households? profit efficiency and the relationship between farm and household attributes and profit inefficiency using a Cobb-Douglas production frontier function. The frequency distribution reveals that the mean technical inefficiency is 0.1627 with a minimum of 3 percent and maximum of 73 percent which indicates that, on average, about 16% of potential maximum output is lost owing to technical inefficiency in both studied areas. While 85% of the sample farms exhibit profit inefficiency of 20% or less, about 40% of the sample farms is found to exhibit technical inefficiency of 20% or less, indicating that among the sample farms technical inefficiency is much lower than profit inefficiency."... Keywords: Myanmar, rice, efficiency, production frontier function
Creator/author: Nay Myo Aung
Source/publisher: Institute for Developing Economies (IDE) Jetro (IDE DISCUSSION PAPER No. 306)
2011-09-00
Date of entry/update: 2011-10-17
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language: English
more
Description: Overview: "During two weeks in January 2009 a team from the Asia Programs unit of the Harvard Kennedy School?s Ash Institute, International Development Enterprises (IDE), and the Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation of the Union of Myanmar conducted a humanitarian assessment of food production and the agricultural economy in Myanmar. We focused on paddy production, because rice is the country?s staple crop. Based on fieldwork in cyclone-affected areas of the Ayeyarwady River Delta and in Upper Myanmar, we conclude that paddy output is likely to drop in 2009, potentially creating a food shortage by the third quarter. Our estimates are based on imperfect data, and this scenario may not materialize, but the avoidance of a food shortage this year would represent a temporary reprieve, not a recovery. Myanmar?s rural sector is stretched to the breaking point and the natural resilience that has sustained it is leaching away. This paper recommends a set of interventions to avert this looming crisis: 1) an increase in credit for farmers and other participants in the rice economy including traders and millers, 2) steps to increase the farm gate price of paddy in order to create an incentive for farmers to produce more paddy, and 3) a program to finance small-scale village infrastructure projects to increase demand for wage labor for the rural poor who are most at risk. This paper proceeds as follows. Section I describes the study?s rationale and methodology. Section II presents the research team?s key findings. Section III offers an analytical framework for considering how and why food markets fail. The next two sections consider the implications of our finding, examining income loss, crop production, and land concerns. Section VI recommends a three-pronged policy response. Section VII concludes by considering the distinction between humanitarian responses and development strategy. Appendix I discusses Myanmar?s likely actual GDP growth rate. Appendix II summarizes the policy options available to the government in the face of continued deterioration of conditions in rural areas."
Creator/author: David Dapice, Tom Vallely, Ben Wilkinson
Source/publisher: International Development Enterprises
2009-01-00
Date of entry/update: 2010-09-01
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language: English
Format : pdf
Size: 177.13 KB
more
Description: YANGON, Myanmar — "Moves by Myanmar?s military regime to loosen its grip on the impoverished nation?s once-mighty rice industry in advance of an election this year have raised cautious hopes for the nation?s economy..."
Source/publisher: "Wall Street Journal"
2010-08-02
Date of entry/update: 2010-08-29
Grouping: Individual Documents
Category: Rice
Language: English
more
Description: "MYANMAR?S leading rice producers, traders and exporters have joined forces to make the country?s rice industry more competitive with regional rivals like Vietnam and Thailand. Effective January 12, the Myanmar Rice Industry Association (MRIA) was created as a national body, uniting three existing separate associations ? the Myanmar Rice and Paddy Traders? Association, the Myanmar Rice Millers? Association and the Myanmar Paddy Producers? Association..."
Creator/author: Ye Lwin, Thike Zin
Source/publisher: "The Myanmar Times" Volume 26, No. 505
2010-01-24
Date of entry/update: 2010-08-29
Grouping: Individual Documents
Category: Rice
Language: English
more
Description: The world?s biggest rice exporter is getting edgy about an increase in production by its once-mighty rice-producing neighbor, Burma... "The 1.3 million tons exported by the Burmese in 2009 is making the Thai Rice Exporters Association (TREA) question whether to remain focused on volume exports or vacate that spot to new competitors like Burma and pursue the top-quality market. A reinvigorated Burmese industry is expected to raise its annual export volume to between 2.5 to 3 million tons over the next few years, the Thai Rice Millers Association warned in March. Burma?s rice production growth is being aided by a major re-organization of the domestic industry announced at the beginning of this year when the Myanmar Rice Industry Association (MRIA) was created from three separate production and trading groups. The increase in production in Burma comes despite continuing problems and lack of investment in the key Irrawaddy delta region so badly hit by Cyclone Nargis in 2008..."
Creator/author: William Boot
Source/publisher: "The Irrawaddy" Vol. 18, No. 5
2010-05-00
Date of entry/update: 2010-08-29
Grouping: Individual Documents
Category: Rice
Language: English
more
Description: "While Burma continues to count the cost of the 2008 Cyclone Nargis disaster and international aid agencies struggle to help hundreds of thousands of desperate farmers, a leading Burmese economist has called for the restoration of the country as "major rice exporter" in order to stave off poverty..."
Creator/author: Yeni
Source/publisher: "The Irrawaddy"
Date of entry/update: 2010-01-31
Grouping: Individual Documents
Category: Rice
Language: English
more
Description: Commentary of 9 January 2010 by U Myint on the visit by Joseph Stiglitz and necessary follow-up. A major section of the address dealt with how to boost the rice economy in Burma
Creator/author: U Myint
Source/publisher: "The Irrawaddy"
2010-01-09
Date of entry/update: 2010-01-31
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language: English
more
Description: Conclusion: "The stable supply of rice at a low price continued to be the principal rationale of the rice marketing system in Myanmar even after the two liberalisations. The transition from comprehensive state control over rice marketing that began with the first liberalisation and continued with the second can be seen as an ad hoc transformation of the marketing system in response to the changing economic and political situation. It eventually took the form of gradual rice price deregulation. After the two liberalisations, Myanmar?s rice-marketing system shifted from being one supported by the rice procurement and ration systems and export controls to one solely dependent on rice export controls to achieve the low rice price policy. This policy orientation determined the development of the private rice marketing sector. The whole sector was allowed to develop only in the remaining sphere of the rice marketing sector and on condition that it did not jeopardise the stable supply of rice at a low price. This was the inevitable consequence of Myanmar?s rice marketing policy. In the liberalisation process, however, the private rice marketing sector was able to achieve self-sustaining development. The government?s policy to promote rice production and cut-backs in the volume of rice procurement increased the amount of rice sold in the market, which induced more traders to enter the rice-marketing business. This was a clear manifestation of the latent willingness of Myanmar?s traders to grasp whatever small opportunities arose to increase profits, opportunities that had been closed for more than one-quarter of a century during the socialist period. The rice traders who expanded business while avoiding conflicts with the government rice policy were the ones who were able to survive during the 1990s. By the end of the 1990s, however, the private rice marketing sector had reached a crossroads as the domestic rice market approached total saturation. This problem was most evident in the tough business conditions facing medium and large-scale rice millers. The worn-out state of their mills grew apace, but they could not risk venturing into new investments under the existing market structure where low and medium-quality rice was in greatest demand. Even in the milling of lower-quality rice, the big mills were losing out to the growing number of small-scale rice mills in the villages. Thus, by the time of the second liberalisation, medium and large-scale rice mills were facing a crisis in their operations. What are the implications of this transformation of the rice sector in accordance with the low rice price policy to the development of Myanmar?s national economy? The first implication is the poor prospects for the development of the rice industry. It cannot be denied that the commercial and processing industries of Myanmar?s rice marketing sector continue to be the base of the rural economy. In neighbouring Thailand, rice millers turned to exporting and, with the accumulated capital, expanded their businesses to other industries with great success. In Myanmar, one would hope that the same scenario could play out for private rice traders and millers. In reality, however, there is little prospect that private rice exporting will be allowed in the near future. The present government is unlikely to change its rice policy, which prioritises a low price for the sake of political stability. Since export controls become the sole direct policy tool that the government has for keeping the price of rice low, it will remain reluctant to undertake any rapid deregulation of rice exports. This means that the private rice marketing sector will have to survive within the confines of the present domestic market, which limits demand largely to low and medium-quality rice. Thus the government?s rice policy has again thwarted the development of Myanmar?s rice industry and denied it the potential to stimulate growth in the economy as a whole. The second implication, which could be more serious than the first, is the absence of a clear scenario to utilise the low rice price for development led by industrialisation (Fujita and Okamoto 2006). Generally speaking, the low rice price policy itself is not unique to Myanmar, and has been adopted in various developing countries, especially in the early stages of economic development. The purpose is to promote industrialisation using cheap labour, backed by the low price of rice. Any clear vision for this type of industrialisation has, however, been barely observed for Myanmar in the past 19 years. The low rice price policy has not gone beyond the purpose of maintaining the regime and it is likely to continue that way for some time."
Creator/author: Ikuko Okamoto
Source/publisher: 2006 Burma Update Conference via Australian National University
2007-01-00
Date of entry/update: 2008-12-30
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language: English
more
Description: Preface: "Rice is Burma?s most important crop. It dominates the agricultural sector, which is the largest and most productive part of the economy; changes in rice production have a direct and profound influence on the entire population. Burma?s rice output must continually increase to feed the growing populations and boost the country?s economy. Studies of rice production over the last 100 yr have shown both periods of rapid growth and periods of stagnation. There is growing awareness among agricultural development workers that production is still short of its potential. Considering the complexities of agricultural development, the various forces that have influenced rice production need examination. An understanding of long-term rice production trends will be useful in the formulation of future development strategies. As a visiting scientist at the International Rice Research Institute, I was assigned to analyze Burma?s experience in rice production. This led me to study the country?s long-term rice production profile and, in the process, to examine significant aspects that contributed to various changes since 1830. The development process that took place before World War II was well-documented. I was personally involved in the agricultural development process in the years after the war (a total of 37 yr) in various capacities as a researcher, extension worker, and administrator. This book is the outcome of my personal experiences, which have influenced the inferences I have made about available statistical data. The book is a comprehensive treatment of rice production in the past 100 yr. It presents important critical issues in production and other related areas. Chapter I gives background information about the country. Chapter II describes rice production under the British Government, with emphasis on the various forces that generated growth. Chapter III presents the situation after the country gained independence from the British, and the problems that prevented progress. Chapter IV details research development and technology transfer activities, focusing on an extension strategy that dramatically increased rice production in the last decade. The development, implementation, and evaluation of this extension strategy take a considerable part of this chapter. In all these chapters, the impact of rice production on the social and economic conditions of the population is discussed. Chapter V presents the farmer participatory research and extension approach and proposes a methodology for applying it. This analysis is by no means exhaustive, but all available data related to the rice industry have been collected and collated. I trust that the study brings forth some significant aspects of rice production performances that will lead students of agricultural development to initiate appropriate action..."
Creator/author: U Khin Win
Source/publisher: International Rice Research Institute (IRRI),
1991-00-00
Date of entry/update: 2008-05-01
Grouping: Individual Documents
Category: Rice
Language: English
Format : pdf
Size: 3.93 MB
more
Description: Rising prices, poor harvests, rationing in supermarkets—Asian countries appear to be facing a growing crisis.... "HOW serious are the recent rice ?shortages?? Are supplies really running low across Asia or is it at least partly a problem of hoarding and scaremongering to push up prices? Rising prices are certainly causing alarm in low-income countries in the region, and some supermarket chains in the world?s largest rice-exporting country, Thailand, have even imposed rationing. Yet the Thai government confirmed in mid-April that Thailand had more than 2 million metric tonnes (1,000 kilograms = 1 metric tonne) in state warehouses and more in private hands, so exports could continue unimpeded. However, other major rice-exporting countries have put limits on international sales. One of the knock-on effects of the new export price controls is that rice-importing countries—even rich ones—are searching the bargain basement for better deals. This appears to be benefiting the Burmese junta and its business cronies. Major Singapore rice importer-distributor Saga Foodstuffs paid US $820 per tonne for Thai rice in early April, up from $570 per tonne in March until the company tried to buy from Burma. Saga managing director Goh Hock Ho said he was then able to secure 350 tonnes of Burmese rice for $140 per tonne cheaper than the April Thai price. Virtually all rice consumed in Burma is locally grown. However, in Thailand the government has rejected proposals for a minimum export price to slow down exports, as India, the world?s third largest rice exporter, did in March..."
Creator/author: William Boot
Source/publisher: "The Irrawaddy" Vol. 16, No. 5
2008-05-01
Date of entry/update: 2008-05-01
Grouping: Individual Documents
Category: Rice
Language: English
more
Description: Abstract: "Creating a rice marketing system has been one of the central policy issues in Myanmar?s move to a market economy since the end of the 1980s. Two liberalizations of rice marketing were implemented in 1987 and 2003. This paper examines the essential aspects of the liberalizations and the subsequent transformation of Myanmar?s rice marketing sector. It attempts to bring into clearer focus the rationale of the government?s rice marketing reforms which is to maintain a stable supply of rice at a low price to consumers. Under this rationale, however, the state rice marketing sector continued to lose efficiency while the private sector was allowed to develop on condition that it did not jeopardize the rationale of stable supply at low price. The paper concludes that the prospect for the future development of the private rice marketing sector is dim since a change in the rice market?s rationale is unlikely. Private rice exporting is unlikely to be permitted, while the domestic market is approaching the saturation point. Thus, there is little momentum for the private rice sector to undertake any substantial expansion of investment."... Keywords: Myanmar, rice, marketing system, liberalization
Creator/author: Ikuko Okamoto
Source/publisher: IDE Discussion Papaer No. 43
2005-12-00
Date of entry/update: 2006-07-16
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language: English (available also in Japanese - ?)
more
Description: "For years, Burma?s military exercised tight controls over the politically sensitive rice trade to ensure a steady supply of affordable rice in the cities and to collect the foreign exchange generated by rice exports. Its interventions into the grain trade – which began as part of the "Burmese Way to Socialism" crafted by the eccentric former dictator, Ne Win - depressed prices paid to farmers, devastating rice production in what was once the "rice basket of Asia". The military regime that followed Ne Win clung to the controls because they feared that rice shortages would trigger urban unrest. Burma?s generals decided only last year to get out of the rice trade, relinquishing what it called "the last remnant" of the old economic order. It hoped that rice production would surge if farmers received more attractive prices for their crop. However, yielding to market forces is proving tough action for the generals to take, highlighting the difficulties resuscitating a gasping economy. Last April, the regime declared an end to its direct procurement of paddy from farmers at fixed prices. It later said civil servants and soldiers would no longer be given rice but would get cash allowances to buy it. The junta also decided to permit private rice exports, ending its long monopoly over the small but essential international rice trade..."
Creator/author: Amy Kazmin
Source/publisher: Financial Times
2004-02-14
Date of entry/update: 2004-02-24
Grouping: Individual Documents
Category: Rice
Language: English
more
Description: Abstract: "This paper looks at the case of Myanmar in order to investigate the behavior and welfare of rural households in an economy under transition from a planned to a market system. Myanmar?s case is particularly interesting because of the country?s unique attempt to preserve a policy of intervention in land transactions and marketing institutions. A sample household survey that we conducted in 2001, covering more than 500 households in eight villages with diverse agro-ecological environments, revealed two paradoxes. First, income levels are higher in villages far from the center than in villages located in regions under the tight control of the central authorities. Second, farmers and villages that emphasize a paddy-based, irrigated cropping system have lower farming incomes than those that do not. The reason for these paradoxes are the distortions created by agricultural policies that restrict land use and the marketing of agricultural produce. Because of these distortions, the transition to a market economy in Myanmar since the late 1980s is only a partial one. The partial transition, which initially led to an increase in output and income from agriculture, revealed its limit in the survey period."...There are 2 versions of this paper. The one placed as the main URL, which also has a later publication date, seems to be longer, though it is about 30K smaller.
Creator/author: Ikuko Okamoto, Kyosuke Kurita, Takashi Kurosaki, Koichi Fujita
Source/publisher: IDE ( Institute of Developing Economies) Discussion Paper No. 23
2004-03-00
Date of entry/update: 2003-12-05
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language: English
more
Description: TABLE OF CONTENTS:- 1. Food Security from a Rights-based Perspective; 2. Local Observations from the States and Divisions of Eastern Burma:- 2.1 Tenasserim Division (Committee for Internally Displaced Karen Persons); 2.2 Mon State (Mon Relief and Development Committee); 2.3 Karen State (Karen Human Rights Group) 2.4 Eastern Pegu Division (Karen Office of Relief and Development); 2.5 Karenni State (Karenni Social Welfare Committee); 2.6 Shan State (Shan Human Rights Foundation)... 3. Local Observations of Issues Related to Food Security:- 3.1 Crop Destruction as a Weapon of War (Committee for Internally Displaced Karen Persons); 3.2 Border Areas Development (Karen Environmental & Social Action Network); 3.3 Agricultural Management(Burma Issues); 3.4 Land Management (Independent Mon News Agency) 3.5 Nutritional Impact of Internal Displacement (Backpack Health Workers Team); 3.6 Gender-based Perspectives (Karen Women?s Organisation)... 4. Field Surveys on Internal Displacement and Food Security... Appendix 1 : Burma?s International Obligations and Commitments... Appendix 2 : Burma?s National Legal Framework... Appendix 3 : Acronyms, Measurements and Currencies.... "...Linkages between militarisation and food scarcity in Burma were established by civilian testimonies from ten out of the fourteen states and divisions to a People?s Tribunal in the late 1990s. Since then the scale of internal displacement has dramatically increased, with the population in eastern Burma during 2002 having been estimated at 633,000 people, of whom approximately 268,000 were in hiding and the rest were interned in relocation sites. This report attempts to complement these earlier assessments by appraising the current relationship between food security and internal displacement in eastern Burma. It is hoped that these contributions will, amongst other impacts, assist the Asian Human Rights Commission?s Permanent People?s Tribunal to promote the right to food and rule of law in Burma... Personal observations and field surveys by community-based organisations in eastern Burma suggest that a vicious cycle linking the deprivation of food security with internal displacement has intensified. Compulsory paddy procurement, land confiscation, the Border Areas Development program and spiraling inflation have induced displacement of the rural poor away from state-controlled areas. In war zones, however, the state continues to destroy and confiscate food supplies in order to force displaced villagers back into state-controlled areas. An image emerges of a highly vulnerable and frequently displaced rural population, who remain extremely resilient in order to survive based on their local knowledge and social networks. Findings from the observations and field surveys include the following:..."
Source/publisher: Burmese Border Consortium
2003-10-00
Date of entry/update: 2003-11-07
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language: English
Format : pdf
Size: 821.38 KB
more
Description: "Burma?s new rice trading policy change is a step in the right direction but several questions remain unanswered... On April 24, one week after the Burmese Buddhist New Year, Secretary Two of the ruling State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) Lt-Gen Soe Win issued a statement that scrapped Burma?s 30-year-old state rice procurement policy which was introduced by Ne Win?s regime on Oct 10, 1973. Beginning from the next harvest, before the end of this year, the government will no longer buy paddy directly from farmers. At the same time, the government announced a new trading policy, which stipulates: "All nationals have a right to trade rice. The price will be according to the prevailing rates, and monopolizing the rice trade will not be allowed for anyone or any organization." Citizens are now free to participate in the domestic rice trade. As far as rice exports are concerned, however, citizens will have to follow the three guidelines set by the newly formed Myanmar Rice Trading Leading Committee (MRTLC): rice will only be exported when it is in surplus, exporters must pay a ten percent export tax, and the net export earnings after taxes will be shared between the government and rice exporters on a 50-50 basis. Rice trading associations will buy rice directly from farmers and then sell to the Myanmar Agricultural Produce Trading (MAPT), which then distributes rice to the armed forces at cost. The MRTLC comprises ministers from related economic sectors with participation from private sector representatives from organizations such as the Union of Myanmar Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry (UMFCCI), the Myanmar Rice Traders Association and the Myanmar Rice Millers Association. The junta is optimistic this policy change will put Burma?s rice sector back on its feet..."
Creator/author: Min Htet Myat
Source/publisher: "The Irrawaddy" Vol 11, No. 4
2003-05-00
Date of entry/update: 2003-07-02
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language: English
more
Description: "In Rangoon, it is often said that the long-suffering Burmese people can bear almost any hardship, as long as they still have enough rice to eat. Such endurance stems from an acute awareness of the price to be paid for open expression of discontent. In 1988, the army slaughtered thousands of pro-democracy protesters, who took to the streets after months of skyrocketing food prices and shortages. But 14 years on, Burmese patience again appears to be wearing thin, as the spiralling price of rice, cooking oil, and medicine puts basic necessities out of the reach of many common people, including the country?s growing number of landless labourers and urban poor..."
Creator/author: Amy Kazmin
Source/publisher: Financial Times via Global Policy Forum
2002-10-23
Date of entry/update: 2003-06-03
Grouping: Individual Documents
Category: Rice
Language: English
more
Description: ARKANSAS AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION Division of Agriculture University of Arkansas February 1998 Research Bulletin 958 2.0 STATUS OF AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT: IN MYANMAR; 2.1 Natural Resources of Myanmar; 2.2 Social and Economic Conditions in Myanmar; 2.3 General Overview of Rice Sector Development; 2.3.1 Historical Development of Rice Production; 2.3.2 Current Development of Rice Production; 3.0 RICE POLICY IN MYANMAR: 3.1 British Colonial Policy, 1885-1948; 3.2 Post-Independence Policy, 1948-1962; 3.3 Socialist Republic Government Policy, 1962-1988; 3.4 State Law and Order Restoration Council, 1988 to Present; 4.0 DESCRIPTION OF RICE PRODUCTION SYSTEMS IN MYANMAR: 4.1 Methods of Rice Cultivation; 4.2 Rice Variety Use and Production Constraints; 4.3 Risks in Deep-Water Rice Farming; 4.4 Problems in Input Supply. 5.0 RICE MARKETING IN MYANMAR: 5.1 Farm Marketing; 5.2 Rice Milling; 5.3 Transport and Storage; 5.4 Production Costs and Marketing Margins; 5.5 Rice Consumption; 5.6 Rice Exports. 6.0 CAPACITY OF LAND AND WATER RESOURCES TO INCREASE RICE PRODUCTION: 6.1 Capacity of Land Resources to Increase Rice Production; 6.2 Capacity of Water Resources to Increase Rice Production; 6.3 Importance of Developing Irrigation. 7.0 COMPARATIVE ADVANTAGE OF MYANMAR RICE PRODUCTION: 7.1 Production Response to New Technology; 7.2 Constraints to Increase Technology Use in Rice Production; 7.3 Rice Supply Cost; 7.3.1 Farm Gate Cost; 7.3.2 FOB Export Cost. 8.0 PROJECTIONS FOR THE FUTURE: 8.1 Factors Determining Growth of Rice Production; 8.2 Evidence of Possible Short-Term Increased Production ; 8.3 Outlook for Myanmar Export Market...
Creator/author: Kenneth B. Young, Gail L. Cramer, Eric J. Wailes
Source/publisher: Division of Agriculture University of Arkansas
1998-02-00
Date of entry/update: 2003-06-03
Grouping: Individual Documents
Category: Rice, Irrigation
Language: English
Format : pdf
Size: 382.04 KB
more
Description: Keywords: Cropping systems, field survey, nutrient use efficiency, rice diseases. "Rice (Oryza sativa L.) growing under irrigated (28%), rainfed (70%) and upland (2%) conditions is by far the most important staple for Myanmar�s 48 million people of which 75% directly depend on farming. Following the Land Utilisation and Tenancy Acts (1953) the number of farmers with large holdings has substantially decreased and today�s average farm size equals 2 ha with a paddy yield of merely 2.8 t ha-1. As a result of rising internal demand due to population increases, the quantity of rice Myanmar exported to neighbouring countries steadily declined despite increased efforts to intensify rice production by the introduction of early-maturing, N-responsive, non-photosensitive, semidwarf cultivars. Double and triple cropping systems of rice, as increasingly practised throughout Southeast Asia, require optimum control of water and nutrients both of which are major impediments to higher rice yields in Myanmar where annual average inputs of mineral fertilisers amount to only 17.8 kg ha-1..."
Creator/author: Soe Soe Thein, Tin Aye Aye Naing, M. Finckh, A. Buerkert
Source/publisher: International Symposium: Sustaining Food Security and Managing Natural Resources in Southeast Asia - Challenges for the 21st Century
2002-01-11
Date of entry/update: 2003-06-03
Grouping: Individual Documents
Category: Rice
Language: English
more
Description: "Rice farming in Burma has become a precarious enterprise, as stepped-up government intervention is stifling profits while stressing the land and the lives of the farmers... There are few ways to express displeasure with the government in Burma, but farmers have been voicing their discontent with their feet. And gauging by the steady flow of rice farmers fleeing Burma for neighboring Thailand, Bangladesh and India, farmers are fed up with working conditions under authoritarian rule. "Less and less people want to farm," says a veteran Shan political analyst. "Even if you grow vegetables they will not end up in your kitchen, but in the military?s kitchen." In Burma, prices of commodities, particularly rice, have skyrocketed over the last 12 months, leaving individuals in both urban and rural areas able to afford only one meal a day. This inflation has further fueled existing hunger woes. Farmers, human rights workers, and diplomats say the government?s incoherent policy making—such as the government?s drive to boost exports and increase the quota system requiring farmers to sell rice at a subsidized rate—as well as the lack of infrastructure, has created an army of disenfranchised rice farmers and scores of hungry citizens..."
Creator/author: Tony Broadmoor
Source/publisher: "The Irrawaddy" Vol. 11, No. 2
2003-03-00
Date of entry/update: 2003-06-03
Grouping: Individual Documents
Category: Rice
Language: English
more