Rice in Myanmar (formerly known as Burma) is the primary agricultural product and accounts for approximately 43% of total agricultural production, making the country the 7th largest producer of rice in the world.[1] Out of 67.6 million hectares of land, 12.8 million are used for cultivation. [1]
In 2019 alone, Myanmar accounted for 13,300 million metric tons of milled rice production. [2]
History edit
Rice has always been a major staple food throughout Myanmar due to its cultivation regardless of location. The production of rice for economic means was encouraged by the British after colonization of the country, increasing production throughout the Irrawaddy area circa 1824. In order to increase exports to Europe, the British government introduced schemes to improve transportation systems through the migration of people to the Lower Burma region. By doing so, it secured the 3 main resources needed for rice production: labor, land and capital.[3] Throughout British rule, the Delta area was home to 92% of the principal rice growing districts in Burma. [4]
Immediately before World War II, Myanmar was the largest rice producer in the world. [5] In 1945, Burma was liberated but the war had already caused 50% of the rice cultivation land to be abandoned as a result of mass migration from rural to developed areas. After Burma became an independent country, specifically during a 10-year period from 1955, the government implemented the Land Nationalization Act that ensured land security and loans, as well as other incentives which increased rice production. [3] However, after the war, affected countries became self-sufficient, no longer relying on imports from other countries. This meant that production was disrupted, and rice trading partners became unreliable, resulting in competitors such as Thailand emerging and dominating the rice export industry with superior rice grain quality and prices. [6]
In the 1980s, scientific advancements in rice cultivation became the norm, as well as international help from organisations such as The International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) in making long-term economic plans. As a result, rice production increased more than 80% during this time. [3]
Constraints edit
Constraints to the rice industry have varied throughout history, generally being a consequence of governmental action. However, adding to further constraints is the unpredictable weather that directly impacts the rice yield, such as the flooding in July/ August 2018 caused a 1.5% decline in rice production. [7]
Geography of Myanmar edit
In Myanmar, rice production is based on its environment: rainfed lowland rice, winter rice, deep-water rice, upland rice and irrigate rice. Out of the three distinct seasons, the monsoon season is the main rice production season as rice paddies rely on copious amounts of water. [3] The annual rainfall averages from 800 mm to approximately 5,000 mm during monsoon season from May to October. [8]
Primarily rice is grown in across the Ayeyarwady, Bago and Yangon delta regions due to the major river system running across. Respectively accounting for 33.59%, 17.72% and 10.07% of the total harvestable area. [9]However, the dry and Mountainous zones such as Mandalay, Sagaing and Magway as well as coastal regions of Mon and Rakhine States also play a role in rice production, although a very minor production of rice. [5]
During the monsoon season; the Delta region accounts for the production of 7,218 million tons of rice, the Dry Zone accounts for 3,564 million tons, Coastal accounts for 1,836 million tons and Mountainous accounts for 2,296 million tons. [8]
Rice production edit
70% of the country’s total population is employed in the agriculture sector https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/bm.html .
It is estimated that per capita rice consumption stands at 155kg, contributing to 66% of the population's daily calorie intake http://ap.fftc.agnet.org/ap_db.php?id=891 .
Supply and trade edit
| Year | Production (in '000 tonnes) | Exports (in '000 tonnes) |
|---|---|---|
| 2014/2015 | 12,600 |
1,734
|
| 2015/2016 | 12,200 |
1,800
|
| 2016/2017 | 12,500 |
1,600
|
^^^ above is template from Indonesia rice production page. Will use for reference
International Cooperation edit
References edit
- ^ a b "Burma - Agriculture | export.gov". www.export.gov. Retrieved 20 January 2020.
- ^ "East Asia/Southeast Asia :: Burma — The World Factbook - Central Intelligence Agency". www.cia.gov. Retrieved 26 January 2020.
- ^ a b c d U, Khin Win. (1991). A century of rice improvement in Burma. Manila, Philippines: IRRI. ISBN 971-22-0024-8. OCLC 26121222.
- ^ Adas, Michael, 1943- (2011). The Burma Delta : economic development and social change on an Asian rice frontier, 1852-1941. Madison, Wis.: University of Wisconsin Press. ISBN 978-0-299-28353-7. OCLC 726747547.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ a b Naing, T. A. A; Kingsbury, A. J; Buerkert, A.; Finckh, M. R (2008). "A Survey of Myanmar Rice Production and Constraints". Journal of Agriculture and Rural Development in the Tropics and Subtropics. 109: 151–168.
- ^ Young, Kenneth; Cramer, Gail; Wailes, Eric (1 February 1998). "An Economic Assessment of the Myanmar Rice Sector: Current Developments and Prospects". Research Reports and Research Bulletins.
- ^ Mon Aung, S., & Nelson, R. (2020). Burma- Union of Grain and Feed Annual 2019. USDA Foreign Agricultural Service. Retrieved from https://apps.fas.usda.gov/newgainapi/api/report/downloadreportbyfilename?filename=Grain%20and%20Feed%20Annual_Rangoon_Burma%20-%20Union%20of_4-11-2019.pdf
- ^ a b Myint, Theingi (07-04-2018). "Myanmar's Rice Industry and Policies toward Value Addition and Export". ap.fftc.agnet.org. Retrieved 2020-02-03.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|date=(help)CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ "Myanmar". www.fao.org. Retrieved 9 February 2020.
- ^ Geografi dan Kependudukan untuk SMP kelas 2 [Geography and Demographics for High School Grade 2] (in Indonesian). FA. Hasmar. 1976.
World rice production | ||
|---|---|---|
 | ||