Myanmar Rice Sector Development Strategy (MRSDS) 2015.

This Myanmar Rice Sector Development Strategy (MRSDS) is a national wide sectoral policy document. The vision of the MRSDS is: By 2030, Myanmar envisions food-secure farmers and consumers enjoying the economic benefits provided by a transformed, dynamic, environmentally sustainable, and internationally competitive rice sector.
The MRSDS seeks to boost rice production and thus better ensure food self-sufficiency and a larger share in the international rice trade for the country. The ultimate goal of the rice sector is to achieve an overall food-secure society and for smallholder farming households in rural areas to triple their income derived from rice and rice-based farming and enjoy decent standards of living comparable to urban dwellers. Sustainable rice intensification using efficient and effective natural resource management for higher rice productivity and profitability will be the cornerstone in achieving this goal by 2030. to achieve the vision and the ultimate goal of the rice sector, five strategic objectives are developed. Objective 1 is to increase rice productivity and improve rice quality and nutritional value, including: Increase productivity through cropping intensification and sustainable resource management; Improve rice quality and nutritional value to ensure food security and enhance Myanmar rice’s competitiveness in the international market. Objective 2 is to adapt to,/mitigate the effects of, climate change and reduce risk, while protecting the rice ecosystems and environment, including: enhancing the farmers’ capacity to cope with risks from climate change; minimizing the environmental impacts of rice farming and conserve the diversity and richness of the rice ecosystems; preserving Myanmar’s rice heritage and culture. Objective 3 is: to promote Myanmar rice as a quality brand and enhance competitiveness in international trade through: Improving food quality and safety, promoting competitiveness and fairness in domestic and international market, and providing equitable access for all consumers. Objective 5 is to improve the well-being and capacity of smallholder farmers, including women, youth, and children, by improving adjustments to longterm changes in demography, farm size, and labor supply. Objective 5 is to enhance efficiency in the rice value chain and reduce postharvest losses, by reducing weaknesses along the rice value chain to improve efficiency and minimize postharvest losses to increase rice production while improving food quality.