In 2018, the share of the GDP contribution from the agriculture sector in Myanmar was approximately 10.2 percent. This was a dramatic decrease from 2010, in which the agriculture sector contributed just under 30 percent towards the GDP in Myanmar.

Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (% of GDP) in Myanmar was reported at 20.83 % in 2024, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Myanmar - Agriculture, value added (% of GDP) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on July of 2025.

Despite its enormous potential, Myanmar’s agriculture has underperformed over the past fifty years. Today, per capita earnings in agriculture average roughly $200 a year, one-half to onethird of the levels achieved by its regional peers. Given that two-thirds of the population works primarily in agriculture, low farm productivity translates into high rates of poverty and food insecurity. Currently, about one quarter of the population falls below the national poverty line. As a result, in spite of national rice self-sufficiency, food security for many households and individuals remains elusive. Poor households spend over 70% of their income on food. In addition, fully one-third of rural households borrow at some point during the year in order to purchase food. Even after shouldering this heavy financial burden, up to one-half of rural households report having to navigate two months each year without adequate food supplies, leaving one-third of the country’s children stunted. Why has Myanmar’s agricultural sector performed so poorly? As in other sectors of the economy, ongoing ethnic civil war and violence over the past 60 years, coupled with international isolation, have discouraged private investments and hindered the exchange of technology and know-how. Within the agricultural sector, a series of institutional, policy and structural constraints has hampered agricultural growth and contributed to Myanmar’s current high rates of hunger and malnutrition. The most critical of these problems include: • a highly skewed land distribution, which leaves roughly half of rural households landless, • poor water control systems in the presence of global climate change and increasingly unpredictable rainfall, • a high-cost transportation system, • weak rural financial institutions, • unpredictable government policies, • low public investments in agricultural research, and • weak links between extension services and farmers. Fortunately for the two-thirds of Myanmar citizens who work in agriculture, all of these impediments can be remedied through good policies, institutional reforms and key public investments.

Burma (Myanmar): Value added in the agricultural sector as percent of GDP: The latest value from 2023 is 22.72 percent, an increase from 22.33 percent in 2022. In comparison, the world average is 9.91 percent, based on data from 166 countries. Historically, the average for Burma (Myanmar) from 2000 to 2023 is 35.26 percent. The minimum value, 20.84 percent, was reached in 2019 while the maximum of 57.24 percent was recorded in 2000.

The availability of fertile lands and an abundance of fresh water resources make Myanmar an ideal place for agricultural practices. Agriculture has always been considered a pillar of the country’s economy. It has generated wealth and employs a large number of people. In 2020, the agricultural sector’s gross domestic product (GDP) contribution was almost ***** trillion Myanmar kyat.

Agriculture in Myanmar

Agriculture is a practice that involves not only the cultivation of crops but also the raising of livestock. As a result, it consists of a variety of sub-sectors such as fisheries and forestry. Since agriculture involves so many revenue-generating sub-sectors, it has a direct impact on the GDP, which is a measure of the total production value of a country. The fresh vegetable production volume in Myanmar from 2010 to 2018 showed consistency with maximum production achieved during 2018. Additionally, the cattle stock in Myanmar from 2009 to 2018 showed continuous growth.

The impact of agriculture on economy

The agricultural sector in Myanmar contributes a major share to the GDP of the country. Even after a decrease in the last few years, the agriculture sector still accounted for more than ** percent of the GDP. The real GDP growth in Myanmar due to the agricultural sector showed positive growth for all financial years except 2016 when a negative growth rate of *** percent was witnessed. However, the forecast for the year 2020 and 2021 suggested an increase in growth.

The statistic shows the real GDP growth of the agriculture sector in Myanmar from 2015 to 2018, with a forecast until 2021. In 2018, the agriculture GDP growth amounted to approximately 1.2 percent.

This paper reviews the development of the agricultural sector in Myanmar after the transition to an open economy in 1988 and analyzes the nature as well as the performance of the agricultural sector. The avoidance of social unrest and the maintenance of control by the regime are identified as the two key factors that have determined the nature of agricultural policy after 1988. A major consequence of agricultural policy has been a clear difference in development paths among the major crops. Production of crops that had a potential for development showed sluggish growth due to policy constraints, whereas there has been a self-sustaining increase in the output of those crops that have fallen outside the remit of agricultural policy.

The Republic of the Union of Myanmar (hereinafter referred to as “Myanmar”), after experiencing a period of military administration since a democratic movement in 1988, enacted new constitution through a national vote held in May 2008 for self-democratization and held a general election in November 2010, thus a new administrative regime started headed by the President U Thein Sein. Under strong leadership by the President, the regime has initiated and promoted renovation/ revolution of various sectors in order to further push democratization forward. Such state efforts have facilitated increase in foreign support and investment as recently seen, thereby remarkable change has brought about in state economic development.In the light of such a situation, Japanese Government has reviewed the hitherto principles/ guidelines of economic cooperation toward Myanmar, thereby launched new economic cooperation platform consisting of three-tier pillars, namely, “support for improving livelihood of population (inclusive of assistance to ethnic minorities and poverty prone strata, agricultural development, area development), “support for capacity development as well as institutional consolidation of human resources sustaining economy and society (inclusive of that for promoting democratization), and “support for infrastructure and institutional improvement required for sustainable economic growth”, as consulted in premier conference held in April 2012. As a result, such an outstanding change has been brought in surrounding political/ diplomatic environment as a positive movement toward resumption of Japanese ODA toward Myanmar. Taking such torrential change in political/ social situations into consideration, necessity of review has arisen from this situational change on the future status and direction of cooperation in agricultural sector by JICA. In this context, it has become essential to elucidate and analyze newly and successively created policies and legal institutions related to agriculture, current state of ever-changing production and marketing of agricultural products.

Abstract

Myanmar Agricultural censuses are large scale data collection exercises under taken at frequent intervals. Agricultural Censuses are designed mainly to collect data on agriculture and other stock type data.

Long-term and short-term objectives for implementing Myanmar Agriculture Census 2010 are described as follows:

(1) To collect, monitor and issue the reliable and concrete data concerning food and agriculture sectors of Myanmar which can be used as baseline information for formulation of rural development plans; (2) To provide accurate information concerning food and agriculture sectors of Myanmar that will reflect present situation of food and agriculture sectors from which effective nation-wide and regional development policies and administrative tasks could be set up; (3) To provide data to use as benchmarks for current agricultural statistics; (4) To nurture local experts and technician in food and agricultural statistics

And Short-term Objectives are: (1) To provide accurate structural data of food and agriculture sector of Myanmar; (2) To acquire baseline data and information that can be applied in measuring growth and development of food and agriculture sectors of Myanmar; (3) To provide basic data and information to be able to analyze and evaluate the effectiveness of the development projects relating to food and agriculture sectors of Myanmar; (4) To provide data on the structure of agriculture, livestock, fisheries and aquaculture, especially for small administrative units; (5) To provide frames for agricultural sample surveys; (6) To strengthen human resource development in the activities concerning agricultural statistics, surveys and agricultural census; (7) To provide information for role of gender in food and agriculture sectors of Myanmar; (8) To collect reliable and concrete data and information that reflects the environmental issues and situation of the sustainability of agricultural development in Myanmar.

Geographic coverage

National

Kind of data

Sample survey data [ssd]

Mode of data collection

Face-to-face [f2f]

In 2018, the GDP value contribution from the agricultural sector in Myanmar was approximately **** trillion Myanmar kyat. This was consistent with the previous year, in which the agricultural sector contributed almost ** trillion Myanmar kyat to the country's GDP.

Myanmar’s agriculture sector offers substantial unexploited potential to underpin the country’s inclusive economic development. With extensive land, water, and labor resources, as well as proximity to fast-growing markets, the country’s agriculture has key competitive advantages. At the same time, Myanmar’s agricultural productivity trails its neighbors as a result of constraints in input markets, infrastructure, and institutions. Key actions to address these constraints include improving land tenure, expanding credit availability, investing in input markets for nutrients and machinery, developing drainage and irrigation systems, and enhancing rural transport and electricity connectivity. In the short-term, public-private partnership may help to address these barriers to investment, but increased public investment in innovation and attention to climate change effects as part of comprehensive long-term agricultural development planning.

Employment in agriculture (% of total employment) (modeled ILO estimate) in Myanmar was reported at 45.2 % in 2023, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Myanmar - Employment in agriculture (% of total employment) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on June of 2025.

In 2019, the GDP contribution of the total agriculture sector grew by *** percent in Myanmar. This was a decrease from 2010, in which the GDP contribution of the total agriculture sector grew by *** percent in Myanmar.

An outline of the proposed Agricultural Development Strategy and Investment Plan, alongside some background on the process behind its drafting, and steps towards reform of the Agriculture Sector since 2015.

Myanmar Government Expenditure: Capital: Agriculture data was reported at 341,099.673 MMK mn in 2016. This records an increase from the previous number of 294,857.725 MMK mn for 2015. Myanmar Government Expenditure: Capital: Agriculture data is updated yearly, averaging 52,289.700 MMK mn from Mar 1981 (Median) to 2016, with 22 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 341,099.673 MMK mn in 2016 and a record low of 546.900 MMK mn in 1991. Myanmar Government Expenditure: Capital: Agriculture data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Central Statistical Organization. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Myanmar – Table MM.F006: Government Expenditure by Sector.

Myanmar MM: Employment In Agriculture: Modeled ILO Estimate: Male: % of Male Employment data was reported at 51.045 % in 2017. This records a decrease from the previous number of 52.353 % for 2016. Myanmar MM: Employment In Agriculture: Modeled ILO Estimate: Male: % of Male Employment data is updated yearly, averaging 71.202 % from Dec 1991 (Median) to 2017, with 27 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 79.179 % in 1991 and a record low of 51.045 % in 2017. Myanmar MM: Employment In Agriculture: Modeled ILO Estimate: Male: % of Male Employment data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Myanmar – Table MM.World Bank.WDI: Employment and Unemployment. Employment is defined as persons of working age who were engaged in any activity to produce goods or provide services for pay or profit, whether at work during the reference period or not at work due to temporary absence from a job, or to working-time arrangement. The agriculture sector consists of activities in agriculture, hunting, forestry and fishing, in accordance with division 1 (ISIC 2) or categories A-B (ISIC 3) or category A (ISIC 4).; ; International Labour Organization, ILOSTAT database. Data retrieved in September 2018.; Weighted average; Data up to 2016 are estimates while data from 2017 are projections.

This paper will examine the possible use of contract farming with small land holding farmers as a tool to capitalize on the opportunity to improve the economic growth of Myanmar’s agricultural sector, as well as to sustainably improve the livelihood, capacity, and output of this demographic of farmers.

Myanmar SEE: CE: Cap: Agricultural Enterprises data was reported at 60.000 MMK mn in 2016. This records a decrease from the previous number of 137.500 MMK mn for 2015. Myanmar SEE: CE: Cap: Agricultural Enterprises data is updated yearly, averaging 2,096.475 MMK mn from Mar 1981 (Median) to 2016, with 22 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 5,846.856 MMK mn in 2004 and a record low of 0.000 MMK mn in 2013. Myanmar SEE: CE: Cap: Agricultural Enterprises data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Central Statistical Organization. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Myanmar – Table MM.F009: State Economic Enterprise Capital Expenditures by sector.

The report covers Myanmar Agriculture Machinery Market Revenue, Covid-19 Impact Myanmar Agriculture Machinery Market, Myanmar Tractors Market Future..

The agribusiness sector in Myanmar is predominately driven by influential Burmese companies with connections to military and government officials. Myanmar authorities have liberalized land development policies in an effort to increase agricultural commodity production and export, as advised by international finance bodies, regional investors and Burmese businessmen. Foreign investment in the agricultural sector is expected to increase with the newly elected, reform-minded Myanmar government and their recently enacted land bills that create land titles that can be bought, sold and transferred, including to foreign investors. Asian business leaders are currently reassessing the political and economic risks of investing in Myanmar. The immediate results from agribusiness investment by domestic and international sources have been abysmal, especially in ethnic minority regions. Due to low capital and technology inputs, limited infrastructure, inadequate training and poor land governance, including a lack of government assistance, agricultural production remains low. Agricultural concessions sometimes serve as a cover for logging, or in politically hostile ethnic areas, as a means of targeting both rebel groups and ethnic civilian populations alike. As a result, farmers are displaced from their traditional lands, wage labour migration is on the rise, ecological health is threatened, food insecurity is increasing, and poppy cultivation for opium is making a comeback in the north.