2021 Volume 12 Issue 2 Pages 7-12
Myanmar is the second most vulnerable country in the world to the effects of climate change, with agriculture highly vulnerable. This study was conducted to determine farmers’ knowledge on how to respond to the impacts of climate change, to identify climate- resilient adaptation technologies in rice farming, to also identify the desired characteristics of chosen rice varieties, and to estimate the cost and benefits for different rice production systems for the chosen varieties. The study was carried out in Myittha Township, a major rice-growing area in the middle of Myanmar. Most of the rice areas are irrigated. Primary data were collected by conducting a socio-economic survey. Descriptive analysis and cost benefit analysis were applied. More than 95 percent of the farmers adopted an adaptation strategy of using quality seeds. A change to the time of sowing, was favored by only 27% of respondents. About 41% of farmers grew Manaw Thukha rice variety, followed in popularity by Ayeyar Min (33.62%), and Shwe Manaw (20.49%) varieties. The traits of rice variety most desired were high yield and high marketability. The farmers practiced two different methods of rice establishment: direct seeding and transplanting, and grew in both monsoon and summer seasons. In monsoon, direct-seeded Ayeyarmin achieved the highest BCR (1.75) whereas the Manaw Thukha variety yielded the highest BCR in summer (1.70). The study area is an irrigated rice-growing area and has not yet suffered much from climate change impacts on rice production. This is despite a trend to scarcity of rainfall, which implies that improved irrigation facilities will comprise an essential adaptation strategy.
