Hsu/Thant Zin (NSS)- Sept 29

At a national workshop on September 22 in Nay Pyi Taw, Union Minister for Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation U Min Naung announced ambitious agricultural targets: raising annual rice exports to 5 million tonnes (generating US$2 billion) and expanding Paw San rice cultivation to 100,000 acres by 2028. The workshop, titled “From Agricultural Sector Development to National Product Growth,” focused on strategy to boost domestic output. 

“We aim to increase annual rice exports from the current maximum of 4 million tonns to 5 million tonnes and earn around US$2 billion. We also aim to generate around US$2 billion from pulses exports, US$5 billion from rubber exports, up to US$1.5 billion from aquatic product exports, and up to US$1 billion from maize exports,” the Union Minister said.

According to the Myanmar Rice Federation, Myanmar exported over 2.7 million tonnes of rice and broken rice during the 2025–2026 fiscal year, earning US$852 million.

Myanmar has set a target to export 3 million tonnes of rice for the 2026–2027 fiscal year. As of August, exports of rice and broken rice have already surpassed 840,000 tonnes, generating US$291 million.

Achieving the 5-million-tonnes export target depends on creating at least 5 million acres of Rice Export Zones, the Union Minister explained, while acknowledging that reaching this required acreage overnight will be difficult. 

“If we are to export 5 million tonnes of rice, we need to establish Export Zones covering at least 5 million acres. However, reaching that scale immediately is difficult. This year, we have established 300,000 acres of Export Zones. Based on annual progress and cross-sector cooperation, we plan to expand these zones year by year until we hit our target,” he said.

The government also plans to increase Paw San rice cultivation by up to 50,000 acres annually, setting aside 100,000 acres specifically for export, according to the Union Minister. 

“Likewise, we plan to increase Paw San rice cultivation by around 50,000 acres each year and to set aside 100,000 acres specifically for export-oriented production. In particular, we aim to expand Paw San cultivation to 100,000 acres by 2028,” the Union Minister said.

The government also plans to consolidate small-scale plots into collective or systematically organized farmland, with support from state agencies and private businesses, the Union Minister added. –