ORGANIC COTTON FARMING PROJECT

The first organic cotton project in Myanmar

“Republic of the Union of Myanmar” is a land of culture and heritage. This Buddhist country has abundant human and natural resources and is located between two important economies of the world, China and India. The country`s forest, water and land ecosystems and diverse topography offer opportunities for production of a range of cereals, millets, pulses, horticulture and cash crops.

POVERTY IN MYANMAR
25.6% of the Burmese population lives below the national poverty line. For every 1,000 babies born in here, 40 die before their first birthday. Also, only 21.8% of the country`s population have access to the internet.

Agriculture in Myanmar

OVERVIEW

Ø Agriculture sector is the backbone of Myanmar`s economy. 20% of total export earnings come from
agriculture and it employs 61.2 % of the labor force (Myanmar Agriculture in Brief, 2015).
Ø Rice is the main staple food of Myanmar, therefore, rice crop occupied 7.28 million hectare and it
covers 34.1% of total cultivated area (21.4 million hectare).
Ø Oilseed crop and pulses crops successively occupy the next largest area planted.
Ø Rice production is self-sufficient for its population and surplus has been exported.
Ø In terms of rice security, it has reached 120% currently in Myanmar.
Ø Myanmar is standing as a leading producer and exporter for pulses among ASEAN countries.
Ø Pulses have occupied over 21% of the total crop cultivated.

Cotton currently covers 2% of total
agricultural area.

The sector remains fairly concentrated in area and number of actors with:
Ø A total cotton production area of 300,000ha
Ø Roughly 80,000 – 100,000 farm families engaged in cotton
Ø Private ginners present in all major growing regions

• No or low chemical based farming systems.
• No heavy pest and disease load.
• The existing religious/spiritual belief systems of communities are in line with organic agriculture philosophy.
• Extensive cultivation of non-GMO cotton.
• Excellent eco system services.

Sense Organics Import & Trading with the support of funding organizations and spinning partners started after a research 2018 the first organic cotton farming project in Myanmar in a rural GMO
free area in central Myanmar with small scaled farmers.

The project was handed over 2021 to the local ginner and his farmers groups and continues the organic cotton farming project.

Due to the high demand of organic cotton and the strategically good geographical location it has a strong ongoing business case.