Agriculture and the rural economy

After half a century of mismanagement, and a decade after Cyclone Nargis shredded hundreds of rural communities in the delta, Myanmar’s rural economy is finally transforming. The rural economy of Myanmar, as in most countries, is agriculture-based. Especially in Asia, agriculture is a battle on three fronts – weather, markets and governments – none of which are easily brought into the service of rural people. This chapter traces the interaction of these forces over five decades, and especially the factors driving the rapid transformation over the past decade. The chapter explores how diversity in agro-ecological conditions, market opportunities and inequality in land access affects rural livelihoods.