UMD 04 Evaluating Varieties of Rice Adapted to Lowland Rainfed Conditions in Central Myanmar

Rice production in the central dry zone of Myanmar faces uncertain rainfall ev- ery year. Owing to traditional farming techniques and uneven rainfall—as well as other unexpected circumstances—rice productivity is low, especially in areas with inherent low soil fertility. Rice production—integral to the socio-cultural and eco- nomic lives of the people—is thus increasingly becoming ever more challenging. The people of the area are extremely vulnerable and live with constant insecurity. Sustainable systems of rice production systems—if designed and implemented,— could have a great socio-economic impact on the dry zone of Central Myanmar. 

This research is a broad effort to help the farmers of Central Myanmar improve their rice production by reducing production costs and maintaining sustainable, stable yield through adverse environmental conditions. It is hoped that this re- search adds not only to the existing knowledge of rice production in rainfed low- land areas, but also contributes in uplifting the lives of the people associated with it