1.
• Agriculture contributes about 32% of Myanmar’s GDP
• Myanmar has a huge potential to become a credible global food
supplier
• To attain this potential, Myanmar will need to intensify its
agriculture and enhance farm productivity and competitiveness
• This will require higher production and use of quality seeds and
the development of a competitive seed industry

2.
• How is the seed sector performing?
• Hos is the seed sector changing?

3.
Overall performance is weak but
positive features are emerging
- Certified seeds for rice cover less than 10% of sown area
- Yield gap still high
- Declining trend in yield growth
+ Hybrids growth (40% of vegetables area and 70% of corn area)
+ Growing foreign and domestic private sector investment
+ Partnerships between private sector and public sector in rice seed
+ Seed Law enacted in 2011 and come into force in 2013

4.
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Thailand India Myanmar Bangladesh Indonesia Vietnam China
RiceYield (mt/ha) Gaps in 2008
+40%
+31%
+76%

5.
3.13
3.25
3.31
3.42 3.42
3.54
3.64
3.75
3.83
3.93
4.03 4.06 4.07
1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010
Average yield growth is
declining
2.2% average 1998-2010
0.9% average 2007-2010

6.
DAR
Department of Agricultural
Research
Breeder Seeds
Foundation Seeds
DoA
Department of Agriculture
Registered Seeds
Private Seed
Companies
Private Seed
Growers
Certified Seeds and
Good Seeds
Seed
Distribution /
Seed Market
Farmers
Public Sector Private Sector Public/Private
Sector
• Seed Associations?
• Seed Working Groups?
• SeedTask Force?
• Seed Commission?
• Seed M&E?

7.
Private Sector in the Seed Industry
MRIA
MRF
57
MRSC
Contract Farming Programs.

8.
Company Main Seed Produced in
Myanmar
CP Company Hybrid Corn
KnownYou Seed Company Melons, Cucumber
Malar Myaing Vegetables Seeds
Myat Min Rice
Bayer Crop Science Hybrid Rice

9.
Leveraging private sector investment and fostering
partnerships with private sector and communities to
increase productivity and gain competitiveness.
Investment
• Increased private investment (both domestic and foreign) in the industry
Partnerships
• Promote Public Private Partnerships with private sector and communities
Coordination
• Between research and extension to create a demand-oriented research and extension
system
• Stronger coordination mechanisms among farmers, private sector, and public sector
(seed associations, community-based seed production and seed banks, seed
contracts, seed certification, seed information systems)

10.
Low Use of Certified Seed
Awareness
and
Knowledge
Price and
Affordability
Access to
Market
Quality
Assurance
Clear
Benefits
from Use
DEMAND
Under
funded
Research
Under funded
Extension
Infrastructure
production,
processing,
storage
Capacity
growers, tec
hnicians, res
earchers
Incentives
for growers
and
companies
SUPPLY

11.
The combination of limited implementation of the Seed Law
with underinvestment in the critical areas of
research, extension, quality assurance, coordination, and
information.
• How to move from formulation to implementation (from Seed Law to
Seed Industry Development)
• How to provide incentives to farmers for use of certified seed and for
private sector to invest
• Underfunded research and extension (1-2% of MOAI budget)
• Low capacity in quality assurance
• Lack of coordination (private-public, center-local, domestic-
international)
• Lack of information about seed demand and distribution

12.
• How to go from constraints to opportunities?
• What needs to be done now and later?

13.
POLICY INVESTMENT INSTITUTIONS
a.Seed
b.Rice
c.Trade
a.Extension
b.Research
c.Seed farm infrastructure
d.Laboratories
e.Processing
a.Coordination mechanisms
b.Seed associations
c.Quality assurance
d.Membership UPOV
e.Market information

14.
Seed Policy
Rice Policy
Trade Policy

15.
• Breeding
• Inspection
• Demonstration
• Laboratories (research and inspection)
• Processing
infrastructure
investment by private

16.
•Coordination
Associations
•Quality Assurance
UPOV
•Information and M&E

17.
POLICY INVESTMENT INSTITUTIONS
Short
Term
(1-2 years)
a. Seed Policy
b. Rice Policy
c. Trade Policy
a. Seed farm
infrastructure
b. Processing
a. Membership of
UPOV
Medium
Term
(1-5 years)
a. Laboratories a. Seed associations
b. Quality assurance
LongTerm
(1-10 years)
a. Extension
b. Research
a. Coordination
mechanisms
b. Market information

18.
Activities Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 Year 4 Year 5 Year 6 Year 7 Year 8 Year 9 Year 10
Rice Policy
Seed Policy
Trade Policy
Seed Farm
Infrastructure
Processing Facilities
Membership UPOV
Laboratories
Seed Associations
Quality assurance
system
Extension and
Research
Coordination
Mechanisms
Market Information

19.
performance is still weak positive
features are emerging
leverage the experience and resources of the private sector and
communities
formulate policies
incentives
correct for the underinvestment

20.
Thank you