At a glance: postharvest activities in Myanmar

In the past issues of RIPPLE, you’ve seen the flurry of activities going on in each partner country—workshops and training, research updates, outreach programs, and more. Myanmar is one example of a partner country pressing forward. Here, you’ll get a glimpse of the frenzy of postharvest activities of the Myanmar Rice and Paddy Traders’ Association (MRPTA), working hand in hand with the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) and the Irrigated Rice Research Consortium (IRRC).

Nov 2005 A market survey is being done with IRRC until November 2006 to study price trends, fluctuations, customers’ preferences in choosing rice varieties, and factors that determine price trends.

Feb 2006 This Vietnamese-designed commercial-scale paddy dryer was constructed at the Yadanar Mandaing Private Rice Mill in Zee Gone, West Bago Division. The technology transfer was a result of the collaboration between IRRI and Nong Lam University’s Centre for Agricultural Energy and Machinery in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.

April 2006 In-country training on laser land leveling in rice production was held at Ye Kyi Village, Nat Ta Lin Township, West Bago Division. This was a collaborative activity among the IRRC, Myanma Agriculture Service of the Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation (government sector), and MRPTA (private sector). MRPTA believes farmers can get better financial returns by investing in long-term laser leveling, because they can manage and save water through minimal irrigation, control weed problems, and thus save on labor and get better crops from uniform ripening of panicles. MRPTA will continue to develop laser land leveling as a contract business for private entrepreneurs and farmers in the future.

May 2006 The low-cost dryer was demonstrated in front of farmers in West Bago Division.

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