KRC: Myanmar to become major rice exporter

BANGKOK, June 9 (TNA) - A new report published by Kasikorn Research Centre says Myanmar is set to become one of the world’s leading rice exporters with a target of 3 million tonnes in 2015. The report said Myanmar could increase rice production to 2.67 tonnes per hectare this year as compared to 2.35 tonnes of rice per hectare back in 2011. Target import countries of Myanmar rice include Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines and Japan. However, more than 80 of rice mills in Myanmar have been known as undersized, while farming technology underutilized. Meanwhile, Myanmar last month agreed to ship 5,000 tonnes of rice to Japan at 490 U.S. dollars per tonne, the first time in almost five decades. (TNA)