Myanmar Seed Market - Growth, Trends, COVID-19 Impact, and Forecasts (2022 - 2027)

Myanmar Seed Market - Growth, Trends, COVID-19 Impact, and Forecasts (2022 - 2027)

The Myanmar seed market is projected to register a CAGR of 12.0% during the forecast period (2021-2026). The global COVID-19 pandemic has adversely affected Myanmar's seed sector in terms of production, processing, distribution, and cost of seeds in the initial months, which play a key role in developing agricultural systems. On the supply side, the supply chains are disrupted due to the international pandemic restrictions. On the demand side, the fluctuating household incomes and prices received by farmers have affected the input purchases such as seeds. Hence, COVID-19 and the policies implemented to mitigate the pandemic spread had a negative impact on the Myanmar seed sector.

Due to the stagnant growth observed in arable land and a constantly increasing population, the per capita arable land has been declining. These factors, along with poor crop productivity, are likely to put pressure on the food supply in the country. Rice is the most important staple crop in Myanmar, followed by beans, maize, millets, and sorghum. Maize and sorghum, however, are mainly used for feed and not for food. Chilies and peppers, onion, and garlic are important vegetable crops. Other vegetables produced in Myanmar are cabbage, cauliflower, lettuce, tomato, radish, watermelon, bottle gourd, okra, eggplant, squash, cucumber, and cantaloupe. The majority of the companies active in Myanmar are involved in seed production and distribution of hybrid corn and vegetables. Out of the total vegetable seed market, 30-40% constitutes certified vegetable seeds, while hybrid corn seed has coverage of more than 90%. According to a white paper titled “From Rice Bowl to Food Basket: Three Pillars for Modernizing Myanmar’s Agricultural and Food Sector”, the three pillars to modernize Myanmar's agriculture are modernizing small-farm production, modernizing input markets, and modernizing output markets and supply chains.

Key Market TrendsFavorable Factors Promoting Growth of Hybrid Corn Production

Industrial agriculture in Myanmar has been witnessing promising growth over the past decade. This can be attributed to China’s global economic rise and the subsequent rise in demand for agricultural commodities. With many regional and global companies investing in the hybrid corn segment, huge opportunities lie for the smallholders, who dominate the region, and various entrepreneurs. After rice, corn is the second important cereal crop in Myanmar, with the primary use being in poultry and livestock feed industries. A very minimal amount of maize is used for domestic consumption, while the majority is exported for foreign exchange earnings. As per the statistics provided by MOAI, nearly 930,000 hectares of land concessions were granted to private companies in 2014. Land concessions were highest in Kachin, followed by Sagaing, Tanintharyi and Ayeyarwady Regions, and Shan State. Shan State has the most favorable conditions for the cultivation of hybrid corn.

Vegetables Seeds Dominate the Myanmar Seed Market

Vegetables are produced on 400,000 hectares in Myanmar. Vegetables currently offer an important source of income for an estimated 750,000 smallholder farmers. Chilies and peppers, onions, and garlic are the major vegetables cultivated in Myanmar. Other vegetables include cabbage, cauliflower, lettuce, tomato, radish, watermelon, bottle gourd, okra, eggplant, squash, cucumber, and cantaloupe. The vegetable seed industry of Myanmar is a highly fragmented sector, and there are many small players. This is one of the reasons for high post-harvest losses (more than 30%), low-value addition, and high prices. East West Seed (EWS) occupies a leading position in the Myanmar vegetable industry, and its activities include testing varieties, seed production, training the farmers, and improving their access to seeds. As a long-term strategy, EWS considers Myanmar perfect for seed production, having business opportunities for export due to its proximity to Bangladesh, India, and China. The major source of vegetable seeds is the farmer-saved seeds. However, seeds of different crop varieties and vegetable seeds are introduced in the country through local agro trading companies such as Seminis (Thailand), Chia Tai Seeds (Thailand), CP Company (Thailand), Known You Seed (Taiwan), Sakata (Japan), etc.

Competitive Landscape

The Myanmar seed market is a slightly fragmented market with some important seed-producing companies, including East-West Seed, Myanma Awba, Bayer CropScience, Charoen Pokphand, and Known You Seeds, occupying a consistent share in the market. Seeds of different staple crops and vegetables are imported into the country through local agricultural trading companies like Seminis/Monsanto (Thailand), Chia Tai Seeds, Charoen Pokphand (Thailand), Sakata (Japan), and others.

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