Myanmar is well known as a primary center of plant genetic resources for rice. A considerable number of genetic diversity studies have been conducted in Myanmar using various DNA markers. However, this is the first report using DArTseq technology for exploring the genetic diversity of Myanmar rice. In our study, two ultra-high-throughput diversity array technology markers were employed to investigate the genetic diversity and population structure of local rice varieties in the Ayeyarwady delta, the major region of rice cultivation. The study was performed using 117 rice genotypes with 7643 SNP and 4064 silicoDArT markers derived from the DArT platform. Genetic variance among the genotypes ranged from 0 to 0.753 in SNPs, and from 0.001 to 0.954 in silicoDArT. Two distinct population groups were identified from SNP data analysis. Cluster analysis with both markers clearly separated traditional Pawsan varieties and modern high-yielding varieties. A significant divergence was found between populations according to the Fst values (0.737) obtained from the analysis of molecular variance, which revealed 74% genetic variation at the population level. These findings support rice researchers in identifying useful DNA polymorphisms in genes and pinpointing specific genes conferring desirable phenotypic traits for further genome-wide association studies and parental selection for recombination breeding to enhance rice varietal development and release.

Myanmar has experienced considerable economic and social changes since its political transition in the early 2010s. Its agriculture sector has demonstrated rapid intensification and modernization. Agricultural best management practices (BMPs), e.g., drum seeders and laser land levelling, were introduced to rice farmers in Bago Region in 2012 to increase sustainable production and counter negative environmental impacts. The objective of this study was to determine the socioeconomic and agronomic changes due to the adoption of BMPs between adopters and non-adopters. Using a digital survey questionnaire application to collect household data, 200 farmers in eight villages were interviewed in 2012 and 2017. Data were analysed using uni- and multivariate statistics. Mediation analysis was utilized to evaluate the effect of the farmer group on rice yields. Overall, all farmers in this study experienced substantial positive changes over the course of five years in line with the national development efforts. Differences among adopters and non-adopters were not significant, but notable distinctions existed between cropping patterns. Rice-pulse farmers had higher yields ( + 0.4 t/ha), yet rice-rice farmers had larger cultivation areas, received higher agricultural credits, and had superior income levels. Nevertheless, rice yields remained low (<4 t/ha). Education was found to be an important predictor of yield. Hence, this factor is crucial for accelerating agricultural development in Myanmar. Improving extension services and knowledge transfer are necessary to expand the dissemination of sustainable BMPs and make farmers more resilient against the negative implications of climate change.

Myanmar falls within the center of the genetic diversity of many economically important crops, including wild and cultivated rice (Oryza sativa L.). However, the majority of the genetic resources of Myanmar, particularly local varieties, and their distribution remain poorly understood. The present study was conducted to investigate the on-farm varietal diversity and the determinants of farmers’ variety choices in the Ayeyarwady delta in southern Myanmar, specifically for rainfed rice cultivation. Data from 150 randomly selected households, distributed across five townships, were collected through a semi-structured questionnaire. Households were located in three agro-ecological zones based on the predominant water type (fresh, brackish, and saline). The on-farm diversity appeared to be relatively high according to the number of varieties grown by the farmers. In total, 39 varieties were identified within the survey area. Only 34% of the interviewed farmers grew high-yielding varieties (HYVs) at least on a fraction of their land and the likelihood of adoption of HYVs decreased with length of farming experience, education, and soil fertility, but increased with total area sown under rice according to binomial regression model. From a policy perspective for the high adoption of HYVs, the establishment of a product profile for developing new rice varieties should give priority to farmers’ desired attributes and the vital features, such as resistance to environmental stresses or/and preferred qualitative rice properties, rather than solely considering increased yield.