1. SRI in Myanmar
Thein Su
Retired Associate Professor
Agriculture University

2. • Thein Su, Retd. Associate Professor, Yezin Agriculture University
• Freelancer, Consultant
• Started working with SRI in 2008
• Established demo plots in different places
• Provided SRI training 32 times, participated in by 1,930 farmers
• Direct contact with paddy growers by phone and through Facebook
• Assisted 14,074 to learn SRI and General Agriculture
• Published two books of SRI in Myanmar language

3. Organizations doing SRI in Myanmar
International Non -Government Organizations (INGOs)
1. GRET
2. Welthungerhilfe (WHH )
3. International Rescue Committee (IRC)
4. CARE International
5. Mercy Corps
6. World Concern
7. World Vision
Local Non-Government Organizations (LNGOs)
1. Metta Development Foundation
2. Golden Plain
3. Myanmar Agro Action
4. KMSS
Ministry of Agriculture (Government)
1. Department of Agriculture (DOA)
2. Department of Agriculture Research (DAR)
3. Yezin Agriculture University (YAU)

4. 553 h
82 h
149 h
92 h
151 h
384h
21 h
185 h
23 h
47 h
70 h7 h
67 h
185 h
Total area
under SRI
with DOA =
1831 h
Areas under
SRI practice
managed by
DOA
Some farmers are
adopting SRI
without receiving
supervision from
DOA
Total area under paddy
over 6 million hectares, the
average yield is 3.8 t/h
Area with
other org’s
not known

5. Q. Do any of these groups working on SRI interact with
each other? Why or why not? How? Has there ever been
any SRI network or interagency exchanges in the past?
A. No interaction among the groups.
1. INGOs and LNGOs are not doing SRI at all times; they work
according to their project planning. Effort depends on
Individual's interest (WHH, IRC, FAO)
2. No SRI work in the Agriculture Ministry up to 2015
3. Present Minister (Dr. Aung Thu) has encouraged to do SRI
since 2016 but few higher officials and specialists are
convinced
4. No organisation or the Agriculture Ministry taking lead role
to initiate networking
5. Not much interagency exchange has happened (although
Metta Development Foundation is still doing SRI, other
agencies seem not to have noticed)

6. Q. Would a national network be of value in your country?
A. Yes, national network will be surely add value in Myanmar
Farmers doing SRI can get in touch each other, share and
exchange experience, and mutually support each other.
Sharing information can encourage promotion and adoption of
the SRI by many farmers. Paddy production can be increased
through mutual support and encouragement among farmers.
Q. How do you think your organization/country would benefit
from an Asia-wide alliance of national networks?
A. Myanmar, growing paddy widely as a major crop, will benefit by
being a member of an Asia-wide alliance or network by getting
regional and international linkages for producing SRI rice and
also for producing organic SRI rice.
Q. What do you think your organization/country might
contribute to an Asia-wide alliance of national networks?
A. Myanmar can take part in the regional activities of SRI for
cooperation and collaboration and can share information.

7. Sr Township/State Paddy Variety Season Yield (t/h)
1 Htantapin/Pegu Hybrid GW1 2018 Summer 11.6
2 Htantapin/Pegu Hybrid Sinshweli 2018 Summer 10.6
3 Phe-khone/Shan Hybrid 903 2017 Summer 10.0
4 Thayawady/Pegu Hybrid GW1 2018 Summer 9.3
5 NamKham/Shan Hybrid 413 2017 Summer 8.5
6 Myaybone/Rakhine HYV-Sinthukha 2017 Rainy 7.7
7 Mai-sat/Shan HYV-Sinshwewa 2017 Summer 7.4
8 ChaungOo/Sagaing 90-day-old variety 2017 Summer 7.0
9 Yezagyo/Magway HYV-Manawthukha 20117 Summer 6.8
Highest yield records in Myanmar

8. Practice of SRI in Myanmar