THE use of organic farming techniques should be expanded in Myanmar to help maintain soil fertility and increase production in a sustainable manner, an agricultural expert said last week.

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The vice president of the Myanmar Academy of Agricultural, Forestry, Livestock and Fishery Sciences, Dr Myint Thein, said the financial constraints that prevent the widespread use of chemical pesticides and fertilisers in Myanmar are a blessing in disguise that provides good reason to turn to bio-organic farming.

He was speaking on June 11 at the opening of a one-day organic farming seminar at the office of the Myanma Agriculture Service in Yangon.

Two consultants from Israel’s International Development Cooperation Centre (MASHAV) and the Israel Bio-Organic Agriculture Association gave presentations on the use of organic farming techniques.

Conducted as part of a bilateral agricultural cooperation program between Israel and Myanmar, the seminar drew about 70 agriculturalists and researchers from various departments under the Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation.

One of the Israeli consultants, Mr Uri Adler, said organic farming helps maintain an important balance between the need for food production and the need to preserve natural resources for future generations.

Small-scale Myanmar farmers can apply certain organic farming methods used in Israel to cut costs and increase production, he said.

In his opening remarks, the Israeli ambassador, Mr Yaacov Avrahamy, said that Israeli and Myanmar societies were historically agrarian nations.

“The (Hebrew) calendar and Jewish festivals are largely related to agricultural seasons. It is interesting to see the ideas of modern organic farming have their roots in Jewish sources composed thousands of years ago,” he said.

“I hope today’s seminar will be a fertile ground for new ideas and for new contacts and cooperation between the two nations in the field of organic farming,” he added.