Strategic Choices Shaping Agricultural Performance and Food Security in Myanmar

By
Duncan Boughton
Glenn Denning
Khin Mar Cho
Larry C.Y. Wong
Naw Eh Mwee Aye Wai, Ngu Wah Win, Renate Kloeppinger-Todd, Shannon Wilson, Steven Haggblade, Tin Maung Than, Tun Min Sandar, Zaw Oo
September 28, 2014

Despite the many transformations taking place in Myanmar, its agricultural sector is lagging. A high proportion of rural households remain poor and food insecure as a result. This article examines the underlying causes of poor agricultural performance through a combination of literature and secondary data review combined with extensive field interviews with a broad range of key informants in the main agricultural zones of the country. We identify key structural changes that are needed to unleash smallholder-led agricultural transformation and broad-based rural economic growth.