Rice Production, Income Diversification and Rural Development in Myanmar

Among agricultural produce, rice is still dominating the Myanmar's agriculture sector, as it is a staple food crop and a principal export crop. Although previous market reforms and major investment in the agriculture sector have led to an increase in rice production, there have been challenges, such as limited availability of loans, poor infrastructure, application of farm inputs and the quality of seeds. My thesis comprises three essays that, together, fill the gaps in the existing literature on most of the key issues affect rural development in Myanmar. The first essay analyses the source and extent of potential productivity and efficiency gains, and investigates how Myanmar can increase its rice productivity. The data used in this thesis is taken from 634 farm households in the main rice growing regions, specifically Ayeyarwaddy, Bago and Sagaing. The stochastic production frontier and technical inefficiency models are applied to capture which farm-specific factors determine efficiency gains. The findings show that rice production in the selected regions can be improved through farm workers with better education, agricultural extension services, and efficient fertilizer and pesticide application. This essay also analyses the impact of land reforms and market reforms on rice production in Myanmar and Vietnam. Although there are differences between the two countries, especially in terms of government policy and institutions, both share some similarities when it comes to rice production. Vietnam is a more efficient rice producer than Myanmar, due to its better irrigation system, use of better quality seeds, higher application rate of fertilizers, and more intensive cropping. There may be many lessons for Myanmar to learn Vietnam's to increase the quantity and quality of its rice production by applying certified seeds and efficient use of fertilizers, and using sufficient irrigated water. The second essay examines the impact of credit policy on rice production in the selected regions. The provision of agricultural credit is used as a major tool to develop rural areas and reduce poverty in Myanmar. Despite the rapid expansion of agricultural credit by the Myanmar Agricultural Development Bank (MADB), there are some limitations on applying for credits, such as the credit amount per acre and the landholding size. A fuzzy regression discontinuity design approach is applied to identify the effects of agricultural credit, making use of the MADB's credit rule based on landholding size up to 10 acres. Although the subsidized credit scheme shows little impact on rice output and rice income, the credit program has some positive effects on total household income, suggesting a positive spillover effect on other farm income activities. The third essay assesses the determinants of income diversification from different sources and its impact upon the rural economy of Myanmar. Despite the fact that rice production still plays a major role in the rural economy, the diversity of income from both agricultural and non-agricultural activities has been part of an important strategy for rural livelihoods among farm households since the late 1980s. This essay analyses the factors determining income diversification from different sources on rural households' income, and their contribution to income inequality amongst farm households. The findings show that household's demographic characteristics, total land size, ownership of assets are the main factors leading towards income diversification. The results of the decomposition of Gini coefficient indicate that aggregate income from non-rice crops, especially pulses and beans, helps to significantly reduce income inequality among farm households in the Bago and Sagaing Regions. Overall, the results reveal that the cropping patterns for producing rice and different type of pulses and beans, as well as participation in livestock farming, are the most important factors in decreasing income inequality

ミャンマーにおける焼畑農耕の変遷：バゴー山地とシャン高原南部における事例

京都大学0048新制・課程博士博士(農学)甲第22897号農博第2440号新制||農||1083(附属図書館)学位論文||R3||N5317京都大学大学院農学研究科地域環境科学専攻(主査)教授 舟川 晋也, 教授 樋口 浩和, 准教授 真常 仁志学位規則第4条第1項該当Doctor of Agricultural ScienceKyoto UniversityDFA

Some aspects of visual functions and serum retinol levels in young adults and middle aged subjects

The comparism of the dark adaptation and plasma retinol level (Vitamin A) was a potentially useful method of studying the basic nature of the aging process in vision. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of age upon the dark adaptation time and plasma retinol level. Dark adaptation time, visual fields and plasma retinol levels were studied in two different age groups of Myanmar subjects (young adults: 18-25 years and middle-aged subjects: 40-60 years) (n=30 each). Dark adaptation time (DAT) was determined by a rapid dark adaptation test adopted from Thornton (1977). Visual field was assessed by manually setting kinetic perimetry. Plasma retinol level was determined by colorimetric method using trifluoroacetic acid (TFA). None of the subjects exhibited subnormal plasma retinol levels. Although the plasma retinol levels of middle-aged subjects were comparable to those of their younger counterparts (66.3 (5.2) µg/dl vs 61.4(8.1) µg/dl) (mean(SD)), the middle-aged subjects had significantly longer DAT (5.7 (1.4) vs 3.6 (1.3) minutes; P<0.05) and significantly greater reduction (P<0.05) in visual fields of both eyes. There was a significant negative correlation (P<0.05) between plasma retinol level and DAT in the middle-aged subjects, but not in young adults. No correlation was found between serum retinol level and visual field reduction in both groups. Even with comparable plasma retinol level, longer DAT and greater reduction of visual field in middle-aged subjects indicated that retinal function might also be affected by the age-related changes in retina. Keywords: Dark Adaptation Time (DAT), Rapid Dark Adaptation Test, Vitamin A, Visual Field, Aging

Group Theory Applications: Infra-red Spectral Assignment

Group theory principles were applied and the transformation of the x, y, z vectors on each atom caused by symmetry operations were observed to obtain the 3N basis vector representations é3N, of NiCl4 , Al2Cl6 and Fe(CO)5. The identified infra-red active modes and Raman active modes were then assigned to the experimental spectral frequencies by using the projection operator method

The Impact of international trade with China on economic growth of Myanmar (1990/91 - 2016/17)

Thesis(Master) --KDI School:Master of Public Policy,2018The main objectives of this study are to estimate the long run equilibrium relationship among export and import between Myanmar and China and the GDP of Myanmar and the direction of long-run or short-run causality between the international trade among two countries and economic growth of Myanmar. The data used in this paper are time- series data collected from Ministry of Planning and Finance of Myanmar. The analysis is used to estimate the dynamic causal relationship between the international trade between Myanmar and China and GDP growth of Myanmar. In this study, the Augmented Dickey-Fuller (ADF) unit root test is used to determine whether there is the stationary relationship among the variables of Myanmar’s GDP and export and import with China after transforming them into first differences. The Johansen cointegrated test is used to determine whether all the data are cointegrated and they have long-run association. The Vector Error Correction Model is used to provide that export has a positive impact and import has a negative impact on GDP of Myanmar. The result is that there is a long-run causal relationship running from both exports and import to GDP, but not for short-run. This study shows that there is a long-run equilibrium relationship among the three variables; exports and imports with China and GDP of Myanmar.masterpublishedHLAING NILAR

Physical And Electromagnetic Properties Of Tm And Gd Substituted Mg-Mn Ferrites

In this work, magnesium ferrite was firstly fabricated by citrate precursor method (CPM) and solution combustion method (SCM). The structural, morphological, and electromagnetic magnetic properties of the ferrites from both methods were investigated. Using CPM, a single phase and nano-sized (10-15 nm) MgFe2O4 ferrite was formed at 500oC as evidenced from XRD analysis of the synthesized powders. On the other hand, SCM had produced single phase ferrite with nanosize of (8-9 nm) at around 200oC. Subsequently, SCM was chosen to produce Mg0.9Mn0.1Fe2-xO4 with x=0.2, 0.4, 0.6 and 0.8 to determine the effect of varying Fe content. The XRD analysis confirms that all the specimens showed the presence of cubic spinel phase. In terms of properties, the resistivity was observed to increase when Fe content were reduced. The Mg0.9Mn0.1Fe2-xO4 was found to show highest density (4.26 g/cm3), dielectric constant (11.136), higher resistivity, and a high saturation magnetization (38.41 emu/g). Then, using this compostion as the base, Tm substitution was performed and this was found to produce a secondary phase TmFeO3. It was also found that the physical and magnetic properties had changed with Tm content. Bulk density was found to decrease from 4.26 to 3.82 g/cm3 with increasing Tm. From the magnetic properties, it was found that saturation magnetization had decreased with increase of Tm. Highest resistivity (39.84 x 106 Ω-cm) was observed for Mg0.9Mn0.1Fe1.725Tm0.075O4. Besides Tm substitution, the effect of Gd substitution on structural and electromagnetic properties of ferrite was also investigated. The substitution of Gd had easily formed secondary phase at grain boundaries

Experimental Research on Natural Pozzolan as Cement Replacement

This paper presents the properties of motor and concrete with natural pozzolan as partial replacement of cement. In this research, natural pozzolan from Twin Taung, Sagaing Region and local cement (Crown) are used. Firstly, chemical composition of natural pozzolan and Crown cement are analysed. And then the physical properties of local materials used in this research are determined according to ASTM procedure. Partial replacement percentages of pozzolan are considered 10%, 20%, 30% and 40%.The strength of motor and concrete with natural pozzolan (0%,10%, 20%, 30%, and 40%) is tested at 7 days,28 days and 91days. From the trial mix design, the water-cement ratio (0.555) is obtained by using the least square method. To get target strength (4000 psi), by using water cement ratio (0.555) and 68% of maximum aggregate size (20 mm), the concrete mix proportion (1:1.9:3) is obtained.The compressive strength of concrete with various percentages of natural pozzolan at 60 days and 91 days are more than 7 days and 28 days strength. Therefore, it can be concluded that natural pozzolan may be used as cement replacement material when it is not required high strength performance in structures

LOCAL COMMUNITIES’ AWARENESS AFTER GOLD MINING TERMINATION IN SIJUNJUNG REGENCY, WEST SUMATRA

The research was conducted abandoned gold mining exploration area, situated in Limo Koto Ⅶ, Sijunjung Regency. This study was commenced with the aim of investigating Hg content in water and soil after a decade of mine termination as well as the locals’ dealing with the current environmental issues in which their understanding and perception would be third objective of this research. Therefore, the data collections were starting from December 2022 (the duration was around 2 weeks). Purposive sampling for natural resources, in which soil was sampled randomly at each of the five types of land use then socio-economics data was conducted by cluster sampling method. According to the result, Hg was still contained both in water (well, pond as well as river) and soil (oil palm, paddy, citrus plantations, bush and forest) as well. Hg in soil was ranging from 0.09 ppm to 0.15 ppm which is totally acceptable compared to Indonesia’s soil quality standard, 0.5 ppm (1995). The soil pH found as acidic to highly acidic intensity, the strongest ones could be occurred in the forest where Hg and OM values hit the largest concentration in all sample sites. Alternatively, pH of water >7 was considered basic water type where Hg was between 0.041 ppm and 0.117 ppm, significantly rose not only in International but also Indonesia Standards, 0.001 ppm. The most accumulated area of Hg was in irrigated water; however, BOD and COD values were agreed with the standard guideline. The understanding on this issue, the residents could not correlate with the specific health problems and Hg. Their perceptions on nourishing agricultural products had the positive opinion but a few might be selling those items. While some respondents felt secure consuming water, the others recommended the idea of non-using the water. The locals’ perceptions were more prefer or agree with non-consumption such food sources including water. In spite of increasing Hg concentration in water, the consumption rates were outweighed the non-consumption. Owing to the limited understanding and knowledge of Hg introducing fatal diseases, residents kept utilizing Hg rich water

Mitigation Measures of Flood and Drought for Ayeyarwady Basin

This research represents about the mitigation measures of flood and drought for Ayeyarwady Basin. The objective of this study is to propose the mitigation effect of flood and drought in Ayeyarwady Basin. In this study, flood vulnerable areas for Ayeyarwady Basin are assessed by using Hydrologic Engineering Center’s River Analysis System (HEC-RAS) model, GIS and Remote Sensing technique. Landuse classification map (2014 year) is extracted from Google Earth Engine based on land satellite LANDSAT-7 data and then Curve Number (CN) grid map is developed. Landuse classification in year 2014, the closed forest is found as about 48.9% and deciduous forest is about 26.3% of Ayeyarwady Basin. After delineating the flood plain area in HEC-RAS, the flood map for Ayeyarwady basin is developed by using Arc-GIS. The flood area by using 2014 landuse classification is 10414.18 km2 and the flooded regions are part of Mandalay, Sagaing, Monywa, Pakokku, Magway, Yaynanchaung and Thayet. According to the landuse classification in 2000 year, closed forest is 62.8% and deciduous forest is 28.05%. The flooded area is about 7081.03 km2. According to these scenarios, it is found that flooded area can be reduced about 32% due to forestation. For the spatial characterization of drought, Spatial interpolation (Spline) method in Geographic Information System (GIS) is used to generate drought severity maps. According to the drought severity map and severity values, Aunglan, Magway and Nyaungoo are the most severity regions and which are considered as pilot regions in this study. Two scenarios of rainwater harvesting are proposed to mitigate the drought severity area. In the first scenario, rainwater is collected from the roof top and stored in the storage tank.The average maximum monthly collected rainwater  per house hold for three types of roofing area are 4.423 m3, 13.539 m3 and 27.214 m3 respectively. The second scenario is to recharge the rainwater volume directly over the different types of landuse area and soil group. As a result, the recharge volume for Aunglan, Magway and Nyaungoo regions are 530.85 Mm3/year, 219.312 Mm3/year and 224.863 Mm3/year respectively. Finally, these scenarios are proposed to mitigate the effect of flood and drought in Ayeyarwady Basin