Chinese rice breeder says he can raise yields by 2000kg per acre

High working density of “Good Harvester”	Terrace farming in progress

“MYANMAR farmers own more farm land than their counterparts in China” said Mr Zhao Dan, Managing Director of SIMAR Group Company. “With new farming techniques their individual incomes can be greatly enhanced.” From China’s Sichuan Province, SIMAR started their business in 1993 as a farm machinery importer in Myanmar, but the company experienced set. Backs due to the Asian crisis of late 90’s.

Deciding to adopt a new strategy and sell farm machinery was a good move for the company. “Without good income from agriculture, farmers cannot afford to buy our machinery,” said Mr Zhao. In order to enhance farmer income, the company imported the SIMAR high- yield hybrid rice species to Myanmar. The new hybrid rice species was introduced in 1997. “SIMAR species are more suitable for the Myanmar climate than that of China,” he said. According to him SIMAR hybrid rice species normally give per-acre paddy yield of 2500 kg to 3100 kg compared to Myanmar’s conventional rice species’ per-acre yield of 800 kg to 1000 kg.

“I can help farmers enhance their income by up to K20,000 per acre, says the ever enthusiastic Mr Zhao

But, farmers remain skeptical over the growing of new species. “As we cannot re-sow SIMAR, it has proved to be very expensive for us to grow,” said a farmer. “It cost us K5000 per-acre more in growing than our conventional species.” But SIMAR’s justification on that skepticism is “with our species farmers can raise per-acre yield of paddy by 600kg than the others, so farmers can enhance their income by K20,000 per-acre,” said Mr. Zhao.
The SIMAR group is collaborating with Myanma Agriculture Service (MAS), in exchange of agricultural techniques and experiences.

The group has sponsored the training programmes for MAS officials during the past three years. “This year we have plans to invite four officials of MAS to China,” he said. MAS is also facilitating SIMAR Group’s work in Myanmar by providing farms for their research and ground tests on hybrid species. In the future the group is planning to develop hybrid rice species in Myanmar.

Mr Zhao and his 20-strong team say they are relentlessly trying to make SIMAR species popular amongst local farmers. And according to the company’s statistics, acreage of the company’s products increased from 300 acres in 1997 to 20,000 acres nationwide last year. But compared to MAS statistics on the country’s total rice growing acreage of 16m acres last year, its popularity is yet to be realised.

But Mr Zhao says MAS is cooperating fully with SIMAR in advocating new species. “Myanmar is expected to grow hybrid rice on 1m acres of land in very near future. We have to prepare for that time.” According to SIMAR officials, the company alone cannot provide the total paddy seeds which will be needed to sow on 1m acre of land in the future. Japan’s Marubeni Company has recently imported two hybrid rice species from India. But according to Mr Zhao, Indian species are not suitable to Myanmar’s climate.

Heavy with seed – and grown in Myanmar	Newly imported SIMAR seeds from China

SIMAR species, meanwhile, according to a company official is appropriate for growing in central and upper Myanmar regions where sizable rainfall is recorded. Shwebo Township in upper Myanmar, Sagaing Division, Meiktila and Myingyan Townships in Mandalay Division, and Salin Township in Magway Division in particular are the best places to grow SIMAR. The highest per-acre yield of SIMAR species was recorded last year in Salin Township in Magway Division where one farmer successfully harvested more than 4000 kg of paddy from an acre of land.
Another concern that lies with Myanmar farmers on growing SIMAR is the quality of hybrid paddy. But Mr Zhao gave his assurance: “ It is as good as most of Myanmar rice from conventional species.”

Another of very important stance Mr Zhao has taken on helping to modernise Myanmar’s agriculture system is to employ a new vision for Myanmar farmers. “As far as I know, the latest innovated Myanmar rice species is almost 20 years old now,” he said. Mr Zhao, who hails from Sichuan Province, speaks perfect Myanmar and seems to be quite frustrated with the Myanmar farmers’ lack of will for change despite of his campaign for new species. “ I’m sure if our new species can give direct interest for their families, they will be in our camp,” said the Chinese entrepreneur.

“It’s not important whether our product is old or new, but it is important whether or not they are beneficial to Myanmar farmers. If it is commercially feasible for both the individual and the State, Myanma Agriculture Service (MAS), as it has long experience with Myanmar farmers and farming system, shall intervene in selecting good farming practice for farmers.” He said farmers on their part also need to adopt more liberal ideas on farming techniques and in selecting species of crops to be grown.

It is equally important for SIMAR Group and other likely importers of foreign rice species in the future to maintain the supply capacity to meet the possible growing of demand for the hybrid rice species in the country. And soon Myanmar may grasp the opportunity that lies before it. *One basket of paddy is equivalent of 20.9 kg