Nature Farming in Myanmar

Present agricultural systems in Myanmar follow the traditional methods which utilize the available natural resources combined with improved cultural practices. Although the use of synthetic chemicals such as fertilizers and pesticides have been well established in Myanmar’s agriculture, the quantity actually used is much lower than the recommended optimum rates. Hence, there is no evidence so far that the use of such synthetic compounds in Myanmar have caused any serious disruption of natural ecosystems or environmental pollution. However, because of increasing costs of agricultural chemicals and their uncertain availability, research is urgently needed to develop productive, profitable, and sustainable agricultural systems without the use of costly and hazardous synthetic agricultural chemicals. Introduction The use of natural resources for agricultural production has long been a traditional practice of farmers in Myanmar. Prior to the introduction of chemical fertilizers in the late 1960s, agricultural production was solely dependent on the use of farmyard manure (FYM) and locally available organic manures. The type and quantity of the organic manures used at different locations varied greatly, depending upon their availability. When chemical fertilizers were introduced in the late 1900s, there were dramatic increases in crop yields. Introduction of high yielding varieties also helped to improve crop yields. Since fertilizer use by farmers has been considerably less than recommended, and because of the nutrient requirements of high yielding varieties, there has been a substantial depletion of plant nutrients from soils. This has resulted in a critical decline in soil fertility and productivity. Farmers are beginning to recognize the problem of declining soil fertility when crops do not yield as much as expected. However, the restoration of soil fertility in most cases has not been achieved. And the increasing cost and uncertain availability of chemical fertilizers in the developing countries has led to higher production costs. Under such circumstances, efforts to increase agricultural production, with decreased dependence on expensive and even hazardous chemical inputs, should be made. More effective ways and means of using natural resources would undoubtedly help to improve agricultural production in Myanmar. Present Agricultural Systems in Myanmar Agriculture is the mainstay of Myanmar’s economy. Over 65 percent of the foreign exchange earnings come from agriculture. As such, future economic development will also be based upon the promotion of agriculture and agro-allied industries. For these reasons, the improvement of agricultural productivity has been accorded the highest priority in our national development programs. Agroecological Aspects of Myanmar Myanmar is a forest-clad mountainous country, with plateaus, valleys, and plains. The Tropic of Cancer divides the country into two main climatic regions, namely the tropical south comprising over two-thirds of Myanmar, and the sub-tropical, temperate north which comprises the remaining one-third of the country. There are two distinct seasons; the dry season occurs from mid-October to mid-May and is followed by the wet season. There is a cold spell from December to February during the dry season. The southwest monsoon, the major source of Myanmar’s annual rainfall, occurs during May to October. The precipitation varies with both locality and elevation. The highest annual rainfall, varying from 250 to 500 mm, is in the coastal regions and in the northern part of the country; very low annual rainfall of below 100 mm occurs in the Dry Zone area, and moderate rainfall of 100 to 200 mm occurs in some parts of the country. Major Crops Grown in Myanmar Due to variations in agroecological conditions, more than 60 different crops are grown in Myanmar. They can be grouped into seven categories as follows: 1) Cereals. Rice, wheat, maize, and millets. 2) Oil Seeds. Groundnut, sesamum, sunflower, and mustard. 3) Food Legumes. Black mungbean, green mungbean, butter bean, red bean, pigeonpea, cowpea, chickpea , and soybean. 4) Industrial Crops. Cotton, jute, sugarcane, rubber, and tobacco. 5) Food Crops. Potato, onion, chillies, vegetables, and spices. 6) Plantation Crops. Tea, coffee, coconut, cocoa, oil palm, toddy palm, banana, and other fruits 7) Miscellancous Crops. Other crops which are not listed in the above groups. Land Utilization The present status of land use in Myanmar is summarized in Table 1. The area designated as arable wasteland is about the same size as the currently cultivated area, or some 12 percent of the total. The cultivated area could be expanded by developing the arable wasteland for agriculture, but it would require heavy capital investment to overcome the problems and constraints that limit crop production on these lands. Table 1. Present Status of Land Use in Myanmar (1986-87). Area Percent of Total Area Type of Land 10 ha % Planted cropland 8080 12 Current fallow 1990 3 Culturable wasteland 8450 12 Reserved forest 10100 15 Other forest (decontrolled) 22300 33 Unclassified land not suitable for cropland 16800 25 Total* 67700 100 * Totals may not be precise due to rounding. General Farming Practices in Myanmar Under the government policy which gives the right of tilling the land to the actual tiller, the number of farmers with large holdings have substantially decreased while the number of farmers working on smaller holdings has increased accordingly (Table 2). Table 2. Farm Size in Myanmar, Number of Farmers, and Total Acres in Each Category. Farm Size Number of Fanners Total Area