Agribusiness Models for Inclusive Growth in Myanmar: Diagnosis and Ways Forward

Successful development experiences have demonstrated the greater efficiency achieved with a growth strategy based on small and medium-scale farmers (SMFs). This study is sought to identify potential agribusiness models for enhancing inclusive growth through NGOs partnerships with SMFs in Myanmar. The paper illustrates that agricultural sector in Myanmar is characterised by already high land inequality and landlessness, and low productivity of most SMFs. Meanwhile, a growing share of land has been allocated to large land concessions with little evidence of growth impacts and significant evidence of social and environmental risks. The document argues that Myanmar needs to build on its most important asset base of its millions of SMFs to jump start economic growth. However, the challenge is how to tap the assets of agribusiness in terms of access to technology, capital, and markets. The paper concludes that: private investment by agribusiness, both small and medium enterprises and larger agribusiness companies, is critical to the realisation of SMFs-based economic growth viable alternative business models rather than land concessions are available to tap agribusiness for wider economic and social benefits (e.g. investment in seed industry) a freeze on awarding further land concessions until a more transparent and equitable process is put in place is highly recommended

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