1. POSITION PAPER ON THE SEED INDUSTRY
Role of Seed in Transforming of Agriculture in
Myanmar
Tin Htut Oo and Tin Maung Shwe
September, 2013
Siam reap, Cambodia

2. Outline of the presentation
 Rationale
 Background and Evolution of Seed Industry
 Role of Improved Seed in Agriculture
 Law , Regulation and Institutional Bodies
 Seed Industry engaged by private seed enterprises
 Value chain of seed industry in Myanmar
 Challenges in Development of Seed Sector
• Future Pathways with Recommendations

3. Introduction
27.55
8.42
0.39
0.16
0.74
19.52
1.03
4.54
17.80
19.84
Agriculture
Livstock&Fishery
Forestry
Energy
Mines
Industry
Electricity
Construction
Services
Trade
Sector
Share in
GDP (Kyat
in Million)
Share in
GDP (%)
Agriculture 11,159.50 27.55
Livestock
&Fishery
3,411.10 8.42
Forestry 158.40 0.39
Energy 65.80 0.16
Mines 301.20 0.74
Industry 7,905.20 19.52
Electricity 418.50 1.03
Construction 1,839.30 4.54
Services 7,211.00 17.80
Trade 8,037.80 19.84
Total 40,507.80 100.00

4. Rationale
 Diverse agro-ecological condition
 Strategic position of geographical condition
 Natural resource potential to become creditable
global food supplier
 Attaining these potential, Myanmar needs to
enhance food crops productivity and
competitiveness
 Towards increased productivity and
competitiveness, quality seed production and
competitive seed industry are key elements


5. Background and Evolution of Seed Industry
 Before 1966, Indigenous paddy varieties were selected and multiplied at seed farms and
distributed seeds to farmers through state extension agents (over 1 million metric ton of certified
seed distributed in 1962-63)
 Selection method used in oilseeds cotton, pulses and sugarcane varieties and yield trials of some
imported improved varieties
 Before 1977, most farmers grew mostly indigenous crop varieties, locally available through
exchange among them.
 Stagnant rice production with increasing population resulted decrease in rice surplus.
 Whole Township Paddy Production Program launched in 1977-78 at selected 82 townships located
in Ayeyarwaddy, Bago, Yangon Mandalay and Sagaing Regions, covering 2.5 million ha of paddy
 launching summer paddy program in1992-1993 (HYV paddy seeds were multiplied in state seed
farms and distributed to farmers)
 Collaboration with international research institutions in varietal improvement research, exchange
of germplasm, establishment of seed bank in 1987
 Outcome of improved varieties: Hybrid corn, hybrid sunflower, Mutant paddy , GM cotton
 Formal seed flow and informal seed flow
 Public sector to Public-Private Partnership and Private-Private Partnership in seed production
, distribution and marketing

6. Role of Improved Seed in Agriculture
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
Percent
Area covered by HYV (%)

7. Introduction of Summer Paddy and Paddy
Production
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
0
0.2
0.4
0.6
0.8
1
1.2
1.4
Production(milMT)
RiceSownArea(milha)
Year
Summer paddy Prod (mil MT)

8. Sown Area and Yield of Cotton
(GM seed in 2007-08)
0
0.2
0.4
0.6
0.8
1
1.2
1.4
1.6
1.8
0
50
100
150
200
250
300
350
400
MT/Ha
Thousadhectare
Sown area Yield

9. Law and Regulation for seed sector development
No Title of Law or
Regulation
Scope of Law or
Regulation
Responsible
Agency
Status
1. Plant Pest
Quarantine Law
To prevent
quarantine pest
entering into
Myanmar
DoA, MOAI Enacted in1993
2. The Seed Law To produce crop
with quality seed
and to carry out
seed business
systematically
DoA, MOAI Enacted in 2011
3. Farm Land Law Liberalization land
use right to be
mortgaged, sold,
rent, transferred
and inherited
SLRD, MOAI Enacted in 2012
5. Law on Bio safety To manage safety
of seeds and plant
parts
MOAI Drafted
6. Plant Varietal
Protection Law
To protect
breeder’s right
DAR, MOAI Drafted

10. Value Chain of Seed Industry in Myanmar
FARMERSCONTACT FARMERS PRIVATE COMPANIES
DAR
DOA
Breeder Seed
Foundation Seed
Register Seed
Certified Seed
Imported Hybrid Seeds
Value Chain
Seed Production
Seed Distribution

11. Seed Industry engaged by private seed
enterprises
 Ten Rice Specialized Companies produced 2000 MT of certified paddy
seeds in 2012 through contract farming arrangement between Co. and
farmers
 Some local & foreign seed companies. are producing hybrid seed of
paddy, corn and vegetables by support of MOAI

 C P Company Hybrid Corn
 Known You Seed Company Melons, Cucumber
 Malar Myaing Vegetables Seeds
 Small Private Individuals Vegetables Seeds
 Myat Min Rice
 East-West Seed Company Vegetable seeds (bitter
gourd, cucumber, chili,
 tomato)
 Geniune Seeds company Vegetable seeds
 (Thailand)

12. Perspective from Demand and Supply Sides for
low use of Certified Seed
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, pr
ocessing, stor
age
Capacity
growers, te
chnicians, r
esearchers
Incentives
for growers
and
companies
SUPPLY

13. Challenges in Development of Seed Industry
 Production and distribution of certified seed in official
(formal) system is not functioning well lack of systematic
distribution system
 Inadequate and unskilled staff in technical support,
management and monitoring
 Awareness of farmers on quality seed is low and lack of
established seed market to sell their products
 Limited quantity of quality seed supplied by state seed farms
to farmers’ need and inadequate extension staff
 Insufficient seed processing and seed testing facilities
 There are difficulties in seed import and export due to lack of
SPS and quarantine agreement functioning yet even it allows
2 years grace period
 PVP for breeder right is still under drafting

14. Strength, Weakness,
Opportunities and
Threats in
Development of
Seed Industry

15. Future Parth way with Recommendations
15
 Consistency of FDI with Seed law and Land law
 Incentives to seed growers and seed company
 tax incentives but time bound with exit strategy
 Incentive to seed growers
 Arrange local seed reserves (through proper storage facilities)
 Protection of breeders’ right (PVP to be expedited for approval)
 Affordable but market driven prices for quality seeds
 Lessons learned from ASEAN neighbors
 Awareness program to be expanded to reach farmers and private
business
 Revitalize development of cooperatives or seed business
associations
 Rural financing mechanisms (link with storage and pricing during
peak and slack seasons)

16. 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
Long
Term
(1-10
years)
a. Extension
b. Research
a. Coordination
mechanisms
b. Market information

17. Thank You