MYANMAR RICE exports achieved a milestone in the 2017-18 financial year, earning more than US$1 billion (K1.3 trillion) from the record sale of 3.2 million tonnes shipped from the country once known as the “rice bowl of Asia”. However, it will be a challenge for Myanmar to regain its title as the world’s largest exporter of rice, the nation’s most important crop, grown on more than 8 million hectares, (19.7 million acres) or half the arable land.
India, the world’s largest exporter, shipped about 12.5 million tonnes in 2017, followed by Thailand, Vietnam, Pakistan, Myanmar and the United States, showed the Statista website.
The boom in rice exports, which increased 23 percent in 2017-18, follows a five-decade slump caused by misguided policies and underinvestment. In 1963, Myanmar’s exports stood at 1.7 million tonnes. The government has set an export target of 4 million tonnes by 2020-21, which at current prices would earn about $1.5 billion in revenue.
In 2016-17, total production of paddy was 1327.23 million baskets (each basket weighs 20.9 kilograms), government figures published in state media show. This was harvested from 15.24 million acres (6.1 million hectares) cultivated during the rainy season and 2.46 million acres (995,526ha) of summer crop, according to the figures.
In early March, the Myanmar Rice Federation introduced a basic floor price for paddy. The price, which does not include high-grade varieties, was set at K500,000 per 100 baskets. All MRF member rice mills, traders, as well as agents and private companies will purchase paddy from farmers at the set rate, but pay the market price if it rises above K500,000.
Read more at: https://frontiermyanmar.net/en/rice-is-politics