Sustainable Agriculture Development collaboration in Myanmar
On the 21st of February 2019, in Navartana Hall, Yezin, Nay Pyi Taw – Myanmar, the Department of Agricultural Research (DAR) and the Syngenta Foundation for Sustainable Agriculture (SFSA) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Sustainable Agriculture Development collaboration.
Following one year of intense discussions, the MoU covering technical cooperation between SFSA and DAR, Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation (MOALI), Government of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar has been signed in Nay Pyi Taw. The Department of Agricultural Research was represented by U Naing Kyi Win, Director General, and the Syngenta Foundation by Hervé Thieblemont, South-east Asia regional director.
The overall objective of this three year Seeds to Business (S2B) program driven by SFSA is to improve access to quality seeds for smallholder farmers in Myanmar. SFSA contribution will be focused on:
- Facilitating links between DAR/DOA and the private seed companies
- Promoting and facilitating regular dialogue between DAR and the Myanmar Seed association. These discussions should include market feedback to ensure breeding and trialing programs are targeting market demands.
- Implementing additional field plots and trials to for new varieties for open viewing for private sector partners and testing with farmers and grower groups to identify commercial varieties in collaboration with local seed companies.
- Supporting the private sector to confirm and test seed production economics and build capacity for seed production
U Naing Kyi Win, Director General of the Department of Agricultural Research expressed how pleased he was with this collaboration. “I am confident that this program will create impact and deliver tangible results. It will increase the adoption of high quality seeds, the productivity and the profitability of the small holder farmers in Myanmar”.
“SFSA has recognized expertise and long experience in supporting innovation in sustainable agriculture and activation of value chain. This will be particularly helpful to promote the adoption of improved quality seeds and set-up seed production network for pulses and oilseeds in the Central Dry Zones of Myanmar.” Said Hervé Thieblemont, SFSA South-east Asia regional director.
SFSA recently hired a seed portfolio manager: Ye Pyae Kyaw, based in Yangon. Ye Pyae has been instrumental for the signature of this MoU and will be responsible for the management of this program in the Central Dry Zones of Myanmar.