Agriculture & Forestry

An estimated 45% of Myanmar’s GDP is provided by the agricultural sector, which also employs 70% of the domestic labour force. Myanmar is well known for its rice and teak production, and is also a leading provider of rubber, oil seed, cotton, corn, chillies and pulses. A number of structural obstacles, including land rights, outdated techniques, inadequate infrastructure and low financing, have served to frustrate Myanmar’s agricultural sector in recent years. Despite these challenges, the sector holds great promise and potential for growth. Foreign trade and investment are seen as key to helping develop Myanmar’s rice production and milling industries, and several new agreements with regional neighbours should help the country move forward in coming years.

This chapter contains interviews with U Win Tun, Minister of Environmental Conservation and Forestry; and U Chit Khine, Chairman, Myanmar Rice Federation.