ABSTRACT
This chapter examines the current status of and challenges in Myanmar’s agricultural sector. Agriculture commands the largest share of Myanmar’s economy, comprising about 40 per cent of its GDP. More than 70 per cent of Myanmar’s population live in rural areas, and the majority of the people depend on agriculture for their livelihood. This rural population is generally the country’s poorest, and transformation in agriculture will therefore determine the direction of Myanmar’s economy and the extent of poverty reduction for the coming decades. Thus, it is no surprise that the National League for Democracy (NLD) government, which took office in March 2016, prioritises the agricultural and rural sectors in its policies.
