Global food demand is expected to increase by anywhere between 59% and 98% by 2050. However, global freshwater resources are already overstretched due to climate change and soaring population growth, and it is unclear how agricultural production will keep up with these challenges. In recent years climate-induced water shortages in urban areas have brought water scarcity to the forefront of…
Shortfalls in irrigation and low rates of the use of machinery have led to low productivity in Myanmar’s agricultural sector. A 2016 World Bank report found productivity was behind that of the country’s regional counterparts. During the monsoon months, for example, one day of work would generate 23 kg of paddy in Myanmar, compared to 62 kg in Cambodia, 429 kg in Vietnam and 547 kg in Thailand.…
Myanmar boasts diverse ecological conditions, fertile soils, and promising fisheries and aquaculture. The current administration has centred its vision for future economic prosperity and its drive to alleviate poverty around agriculture. Underlying the sector’s significance, agriculture accounted for 38% of GDP and 70% of the workforce in 2018. While Myanmar was once the world’s largest…
Interview:U Ye Min Aung In what ways can Myanmar diversify production? U YE MIN AUNG: Diversification is great in theory, but it is difficult to achieve. It requires state support and economic strength. If we examine regional trends, it took Thailand and Vietnam decades of commercial rice farming to gather the financing and technical ability to diversify at scale. On top of that, our market…
Myanmar boasts diverse ecological conditions, fertile soil, and promising fisheries and aquaculture. The current administration has centred its vision for future economic prosperity and its drive to alleviate poverty around agriculture. Demonstrating the sector’s significance, agriculture accounted for 38% of GDP and 70% of the workforce in 2018. While Myanmar was once the world’s largest exporter…
One of the fastest-growing economies in South-east Asia, Myanmar has been steadily opening up to international trade and investment over the past decade. A new long-term economic development agenda, alongside ongoing liberalisation and the easing of restrictions on foreign investors – notably, within the insurance sector – and considerable growth in some manufacturing segments, is set to encou
As part of the government’s broader approach to risk management, the Ministry of Planning and Finance approved the country’s first-ever crop insurance programme for local farmers in early 2018. While crop insurance is available in neighbouring Thailand, India and China, it was a luxury Myanmar farmers had not previously been widely exposed to. Myanmar’s agricultural output has suffered…
On the back of inefficient government policies and limited public expenditure, the agriculture sector dwindled under military rule. However, in the wake of economic liberalisation, increased investment and structural reform, the sector’s potential is ready to be unlocked. In recent years efforts have been made to enhance agricultural output with greater investment in production and post-harvest infrastructure.…
Against a backdrop of increasingly severe and financially straining climate events and natural disasters, technology is poised to play an important role in maintaining and improving global agricultural output. The adoption of digital and precision farming practices has been shown to improve crop resiliency, and boost productivity and incomes, particularly in emerging markets where small-scale…
Interview:Thadoe Hein What action is required from the government to address the shortfalls related to irrigation, fertiliser, seeds and machinery? THADOE HEIN: A number of shortfalls contribute to low productivity rates relative to neighbouring countries such as Vietnam and Thailand. We have very comparable land utilisation and acreage, but we are producing approximately a quarter of their…
