11-12 Oct, 2012 - Yangon, MYANMAR
PARKROYAL Yangon
PARKROYAL Yangon
Government statistics show that Burma boasts the world’s highest annual rice consumption at 210 kg (460 lbs) per person, which translates as 75% of the country’s diet.
Officials say that if all goes well, Burma could be ready to regain its No.1 position as the world’s top rice exporter, as it was in the 1960s. Officials also said that a main priority is to provide farmers better access to high-quality seeds and fertilizer. “In China, every township has a seed production company,” said Tin Naing Thein, the National Planning and Economic Development Minister to Reuters. “The government will encourage and support them here.”
How effective will be the new agricultural bank which was set up two months ago to grant credit to small farmers remains to be seen.
Ye Min Aung, the Secretary-General of the Myanmar Rice Industry Association noted that rice exports could increase as much as 2 million tonnes by 2013 and 3 million by 2015. And this year, exports are expected to double to 1.5 million tonnes.
Head of the new National Economic and Social Development Advisory Committee, Tin Htut Oo confirmed that several rice exporters are building large-scale mills that can handle as much as 200 tonnes a day.
He also expects fertilizer sales to rise, and expanding that could produce a big increase in yields. “You can imagine in a few years’ time the use of fertilizer in Burma will at least double. I wouldn’t be surprised if it tripled. This is a big area of investment,” he said.
Western companies like DuPont Pioneer are looking at investments in Burma, which holds potential for higher rice production.
At the 2nd Commercial Farm Asia Summit, Mr. Ye Min Aung, Secretary General of Myanmar Rice Industry Association, will present a paper titled “Reviving the Rice Industry in Myanmar”. He will cover areas such as rice output, investment prospects for rice mills, and offer opinions on staying competitive in the world of rice trade. The summit will be held in Yangon on 11-12 October 2012. Click here to sign-up for this summit, or contact Ms. Grace at grace@cmtsp.com.sg for more information.
Extract from Mizzima.com
