Horticulture in Myanmar

Myanmar is situated in the South-East Asian region and shares borders with Bangladesh, India, China, Laos and Thailand.
Myanmar is blessed with different agro-climatic conditions of tropical, subtropical and sub temperate climate with three seasons: summer, rainy and winter.
Agriculture is the backbone of its economy and the agriculture sector contributes 22.1% (2014-2015) of GDP, 20% of total export earnings, and employs 61.2% of the labour force.
The total area of the country is about 676,577 km² and one fourth is cultivable land (Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation, 2015). Due to different agro-climatic conditions, Myanmar has rich sources of plant biodiversity and it grows more than 60 kinds of different economically important crops (Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation, 2006). Among them, horticultural crops including culinary crops, flowers, fruits and vegetables are presently of limited economic importance in terms of export and account for only 0.737 M ha or 5% of the total sown area in 2002-2003. Among the major crops that remain important for local consumption and as potential exports are chillies, onion, garlic, potato, banana, mango and melons (Oo, 2006). Most of the horticultural crops are perishable and the quality and yield are highly dependent on climatic conditions or their growing seasons.
Major problems encountered by the growers are: shortage of quality seeds; unavailability of financial assistance to invest enough inputs; need to enhance technical know-how; needs to improve pre- and postharvest handling technology and an inadequate systematic marketing system.

International Symposia on Tropical and Temperate Horticulture – ISTTH2016

T. Aung

horticultural crops, potential export

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2018.1205.23