2 January
Myanmar is an agricultural country, where peasants and farmers make up the bulk of the population. Rice is our staple food, and its production currently exceeds 40 per cent of domestic demand. However, when approving the growth of alternative crops, the supply of rice to serve the country’s increasing population and exports should be considered.
At the same time, to overcome food scarcity in the face of natural disasters caused by climate change, we need to collect and store reserve seeds, through cooperation between the government and private organizations.
Several farmers, private firms, organizations and departments have submitted applications to grow alternative crops or to change the classification of their farmland.
The Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation has recommended approving these applications based on the country’s current rice inventory and production estimates.
The Central Body of Farmland Management is also scrutinizing applications to utilize land for development programmes based on potential access to electricity, transportation, workers, and water and the proximity to towns and villages.
It is illegal to sell farmland for residential purposes due to the higher demand for living quarters created by the increasing population.
This illegal distribution of farmland for urban purposes is a key reason for the dwindling space available for agriculture development.
Although the law prohibits the utilization of farmland for other purposes, several individuals have violated the rules, and strict action has been taken against them.
In the past, using farmland for other purposes was a common practice in Myanmar. To effectively prevent the illegal distribution of farmland, corruption must be rooted out.
The Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation; Ministry of Home Affairs; and other related municipal organisations should cooperate to ensure the regulations and procedures under the law are followed.
GNLM
