Rice Production In Myanmar And Effects Of Intensification On Crop Health

Key Findings We analyze paddy rice productivity and profitability data for the dry seasons of 2022 and 2023, based on the Myanmar Agriculture Performance Survey (MAPS) fielded in the period of June 26th to July 25th, 2023. The survey covered plots of 659 rice paddy producers. It is found that: • Prices of inputs used in paddy production – fertilizer, labor, mechanization – increased between these two growing seasons by between 13 and 21 percent, on average. On the other hand, paddy prices at the farm increased by 68 percent. • Real profits, with nominal prices corrected by the change in the cost of an average food basket, from paddy rice farming during the dry season of 2023 increased by 41 percent compared to the dry season of 2022. While nominal profits for paddy rice farmers increased by 70 percent over the last two seasons, price inflation has been high in the country and real profit increased therefore much less. • Rice farmers increased input expenditures on paddy production by 50 percent compared to last year. However, larger farmers invested more and doubled input expenditures, likely attracted by the increased profits in paddy farming. • Rice productivity at the national level during the dry season of 2023 on farmers’ largest rice plot was slightly larger (+1.2 percent) than in the previous dry season. Substantial declines are noted in the coastal areas (-29 percent) and the Dry Zone (-5 percent), possibly linked to impacts of cyclone Mocha. • Thirteen percent of all crop farmers reported to have been affected by the cyclone Mocha and 3 percent of the crop farmers indicated that they lost their whole dry season harvest. Almost half of the affected farmers reported that the next monsoon season would not proceed as normal, likely affecting the production of rice – and other crops – in those areas during the next monsoon season. Recommended Actions • As paddy prices have gone up significantly, rice prices have gone up substantially as well, making the costs of Myanmar’s staple food unaffordable for some consumers, especially for the most vulnerable ones. Expansion of safety nets, targeted or self-targeted to the poorest, would therefore be beneficial. • The cyclone Mocha has destroyed harvests of farmers in Rakhine and part of the Dry Zone. As effects of the devastation of the cyclone will continue to be felt during the monsoon of 2023, further assistance for farmers in these areas to recover from these effects is called for. STRATEGY SUPPORT PROGRAM RESEARCH NOTE 99 SEPTEMBER 2023

In recent years in Myanmar, like elsewhere in Asia, great efforts have been made to intensify the production of rice (Oryza sativa L.) to feed a rapidly growing population. Most of these efforts concentrated on lowland ‘paddy’ fields that were subjected to irrigated doubleand triple-cropping systems. However, even there rice yields are stagnating at about 3 t ha-1 per harvest which is likely due to inadequate application of nutrients, mainly mineral nitrogen (N) and manure, sub-optimal management of cropping sequences and water and to other still unknown factors such as intensification-induced changes in soil quality. To investigate yield constraints and options to overcome these, a multi-factorial experiment was conducted for six seasons from 2001-2003 at the two agro-ecologically contrasting field sites of Hmawbi and Yezin in lower and upper Myanmar, respectively.

"The MyRice project conducted adaptive research on cropping options to increase and sustain productivity of both rice-rice and rice-pulse cropping systems in the Ayeyarwady Delta (Ayeyarwady and Bago regions) in Myanmar from 1 July 2012 to 31 December 2017. The project aimed to improve farmers' profitability through developing best practises for rice production, including postharvest management and innovative approaches to improve the productivity of rice-rice and rice-pulse cropping systems."--Website.

The System of Rice Intensification, known as SRI, is a management strategy for crop improvement. Its ideas, insights and practices are based on scientifically validated knowledge for increasing the production of not only irrigated rice but of other crops as well. SRI represents a paradigm shift in agricultural thinking and practice toward agroecological farming that can be used by even the poorest smallholding farmers in ecologically fragile regions of the world to achieve food security in the face of the climate-change challenges ahead. When the author Norman Uphoff first learned about SRI in Madagascar in 1993, this production system which offered higher yields with reduced inputs seemed implausible to him. But the professor put aside his skepticism after seeing farmers who had been getting rice yields of just two tons per hectare produce four times more rice-for three years in a row-on their very poor soils, not changing their varieties or relying on agrochemical inputs, and using less water. Now, he's helping to disseminate this dramatically effective methodology with this accessible, easy-to-use sourcebook. It offers explanations, research references, vivid pictures, and concrete examples of the award-winning SRI methodology to anyone interested in the development of practicable sustainable food systems. Now, he's helping to disseminate this revolutionary methodology with this accessible, easy-to-use primer. It offers explanations, resources, and concrete examples of the award-winning SRI to anyone interested in the development of practicable sustainable food systems.

The System of Rice Intensification (SRI) involves the adoption of certain changes in management practices for rice cultivation that create a better growing environment for rice crops. The use of intermittent irrigation with alternate wet and dry intervals (AWD) and single transplanting of the younger seedlings in wider spacing areas are regarded as the key factors in SRI for better crop growth and productivity. Field experiments were conducted in Chiba, Japan during the two consecutive rice growing seasons (May-September) of 2008-09 to observe the effects of SRI components on rice crop performance, field environment, water savings, and water-wise rice production. The effects of the irrigation method, age of seedlings and spacing were evaluated in the 2008 rice season with eight treatment combinations in a split-split plot design (S-SPD). AWDI at 10 day intervals and continuous flooding throughout the cropping season were the two main plot factors while the effects of seedling age (14 and 21 days) and plant spacing (30x30 cm2 and 30x18 cm2) were evaluated as sub and sub-sub plot factors, respectively. The experimental results revealed that the SRI management with the proposed AWDI can save a significant amount of irrigation water (29%) without reduced grain yield (7.41t/h compared with 7.37t/ha from normal planting with ordinary water management). Water productivity was also observed to be significantly higher in all combinations of practices in AWDI plots: 1.74 g/liter with SRI management and AWDI as compared to 1.23 g/liter in normal planting with ordinary water management. In addition, the research outcomes showed a role of AWDI in minimizing pest and disease incidence, shortening the rice crop cycle and also improving the plant stand until harvest. Synergistic effects of younger seedlings and wider spacing were seen in tillering ability, panicle length and a number of filled grains that ultimately led to higher productivity with better grain quality. Field experiments with the complete sets of SRI practices were carried out in Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) during the 2009 rice growing season in the same field. SRI (with 8 day old seedlings) and conventional (with 22 day old seedlings) practices were the first factor (cultivation method), while organic and inorganic managements were evaluated as the second factor (management method) in the field experiments. The highest yield was observed through the conventional method with inorganic management (6.84t/h) that was on par with the organic SRI (6.59t/h) followed by organic conventional (6.48t/h). It was recorded as 5.92t/h in inorganic SRI management. Overall, the effects of SRI components were positive and significant on a per plant basis; however, they did not differ significantly in terms of grain yield per unit area. The development of healthy and vigorous roots, increased stem diameter, greater productive leaf area, longer panicles, greater number of filled grains, development of plants tolerant to insect-pest and disease, and reduced plant lodging percentage were some notable achievements with SRI management. Water savings and water-wise rice production are other important issues that are likely to draw the attention of rice researchers and farm communities to adopt SRI under scarce water conditions. However, comparatively better grain yields with conventional management methods underscore a need for further investigations in defining an appropriate combination of practices for SRI management, considering local soil properties, prevailing climate and critical watering stages in rice crop management.

This publication reports on current work in progress to raise the agricultural productivity of a wide range of crops, in eco-friendly ways and in a number of countries around the world, using an agroecological methodology called the System of Crop Intensification (SCI). Through a shift in plant management, SCI allows farmers to increase their production while simultaneously reducing purchased inputs, building soil health, reducing water use, and making plants more resilient to climate change-induced stress.

FAO’s best-selling 2011 publication, Save and Grow, proposed a new paradigm of agriculture, one that is both highly productive and environmentally sustainable. This new book looks at the application of “Save and Grow” practices and technologies to production of the world’s key food security crops – maize, rice and wheat. With examples drawn from developing countries worldwide, it shows how eco-friendly farming systems are helping smallholder producers to boost cereal yields, improve their incomes and livelihoods, conserve natural resources, reduce negative impacts on the environment, and build resilience to climate change. The book will be a valuable reference for policymakers and development practitioners guiding the transition to sustainable food and agriculture.