Agriculture
From The Report: Myanmar 2019
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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. According to the Directorate of Investment and Company Administration, a total of $134.5m in foreign direct investment was approved for the agriculture sector in FY 2017/18, more than the combined total over the previous six years. With approximately two-thirds of the workforce directly or indirectly engaged in some form of farming, policymakers are eager to rejuvenate the sector.

This chapter contains an interview with Thadoe Hein, Group CEO, Awba.

Articles from this Chapter

Overview

Sow and reap: Rapid development of a vital sector promises increased yields
OBG
plus

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. According to the Directorate of Investment and Company Administration (DICA), a total…

Analysis

Safety net: A new crop insurance scheme could help protect farmers against losses, though early adoption has been muted
OBG
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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 from a range of inefficient policies, including ambiguous land rights and poorly timed public interventions;…

Interview

Cultivating potential: Thadoe Hein, Group CEO, Awba, on how investment in infrastructure could overhaul the agriculture sector
OBG
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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 output. The reason behind this is the limited number of crops that farmers can grow due to inadequate…

Overview

Seeking sustainability: Digital and precision farming practices are poised to bolster global agriculture resiliency
OBG
plus

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 farmers are often more vulnerable to climatic impacts. With increasing support from international aid organisations, as well as the public and private sectors, precision farming should help emerging market economies maintain production levels through…

Overview

Seeking sustainability: Digital and precision farming practices are poised to bolster global agriculture resiliency
OBG
plus

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 farmers are often more vulnerable to climatic impacts. With increasing support from international aid organisations, as well as the public and private sectors, precision farming should help emerging market economies maintain production levels through…