Maclean et al. - 2002 - Rice almanac source book for the most important e

Women farmers harvesting rice in Myanmar.
released in Myanmar from 1966 to 1990. Of
these, 11 were produced by Myanmar scientists
using selected genetic materials from the
International Network for Genetic Evaluation of
Rice (INGER), and from local rice germplasm
collections. The rest were direct selections from
INGER nurseries tested in Myanmar. Increased
plant densities and increased fertilizer usage,
particularly for MVs, also had a significant effect
on production. However, yield has fluctuated
around 3.0 to 3.3 t/ha since 1983 mainly because
of the inadequate supply of chemical fertilizers.
To overcome the labor shortage, farmers
practice the wet-seeding method of crop
establishment, do late transplanting using
overaged seedlings, exchange labor, and grow
cash crops. They substitute gypsum and farmyard
manure for expensive fertilizers, fertilize
selectively, and wet-seed the crop or change
cultivars.
Choosing suitable cultivars and constructing
fishponds are the solutions to the problem of
excess water in lower areas. To control soil
erosion, farmers construct erosion-control
structures above fields and drainage and diversion
canals around fields.
The production gains achieved by improved
rice technology in the rainfed lowlands must be
maintained. The government also considers it
important to develop new technology for the
coastal and saline rice environment and for the
upland ecosystem, which experience stress from
drought, erosion, weeds, insect pests, nematodes,
and low temperature. The technology needs are
being met in part through the Myanmar-IRRI
collaborative research program.
112 Rice almanac