Myanmar president asks next government to develop agriculture

Myanmar President U Thein Sein on Wednesday expressed the hope that the next government will promote the emerging economy's agriculture sector during its tenure.

He hoped that the National League for Democracy government led by Aung San Suu Kyi will follow the good example that the current government has set in promoting the agricultural sector, Xinhua reported.

In his message marking Myanmar's Peasants Day, U Thein Sein also said that the Myanmar government will transfer the duty of ensuring agriculture development in the country to the next government in a systematic way.

U Thein Sein highlighted that his government was able to improve the hybrid paddy strains to increase per-acre yield significantly and double the income of the farmers.

The president stressed the need for farmers to have an access to modern farming technology by receiving agriculture education.

He encouraged farmers to accelerate crop production to enter into foreign markets.

With favourable land, water resources and weather conditions as well as the strength of farmers, Myanmar is in a position to fulfil the need of food security, he added.

Myanmar is an agro-based country relying mainly on agricultural sector to improve the socio-economic life of the peasantry which constitutes 70 per cent of the population.