Myanmar Rice Seed - Market Share Analysis, Industry Trends & Statistics, Growth Forecasts (2025 - 2030)

The Myanmar Rice Seed Market size is estimated at 20.9 million USD in 2025, and is expected to reach 26.56 million USD by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 4.90% during the forecast period (2025-2030).

Open-pollinated varieties dominated Myanmar's rice seed market

• Hybrid rice held a 4.3% share of Myanmar's rice seed market in 2022. On a global scale, Myanmar ranked seventh in rice production that year, signaling its potential to emerge as a leading rice exporter.
• Hybrids offer advantages like higher productivity, adaptability, and resilience to both biotic and abiotic stresses. For instance, in the case of rice, hybrids yield 50% more than conventional varieties. Their adaptability stems from a robust capacity to buffer against environmental fluctuations. The rising demand for organic produce can be attributed to its perceived health benefits, avoidance of chemical usage, and evolving food consumption patterns.
• Factors such as the absence of transgenic rice varieties, a 100% seed replacement rate each season, concerns over food security amid population growth, and the hybrids' resistance to stresses are fueling the market for non-transgenic hybrids in Myanmar.
• In 2022, open-pollinated varieties dominated Myanmar's rice seed market, capturing a significant 95.7% share. This dominance is projected to continue, with a projected CAGR of 4.9% during the forecast period. The growth is likely to be driven by factors like affordability, adaptability to local conditions, low input requirements, and the intermittent unavailability of hybrids across crops.
• The Myanmar Rice Seed Project is actively developing diverse hybrids and supporting rice cultivars with inputs tailored to the country's needs. Notable hybrid varieties include Paw San - Super Premium, Paw San - Premium, Emata rice/white rice, and Emata rice.
• Considering these dynamics, hybrids are expected to be the fastest-growing segment in the rice seed market, with a CAGR of 5.25% during the forecast period.

Myanmar Rice Seed Market Trends

Though Myanmar's rice production is facing irrigation challenges, hybrid seeds and technology may boost the cultivation of rice in the country

• Rice is the primary staple food for nearly 80% of the country's population, making it a crucial cereal crop for farmers. In 2022, rice occupied over 80% of the total cereal crop area in the country. The Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) reported a 5.3% decline in rice cultivation area, from 6.9 million ha in 2017 to 6.5 million ha in 2022. This drop was attributed to water scarcity and the abandonment of farmlands in conflict zones.
• Rice cultivation spans various regions, with the Ayeyarwady River Delta leading the share, accounting for roughly 34% of the total harvested area in 2022. The Bango and Yangon divisions followed suit. Myanmar witnesses the cultivation of around 20 major rice varieties. Additionally, rice holds paramount importance as Myanmar's primary food crop, heavily reliant on irrigation. However, the nation has grappled with an upswing in severe droughts, prompting a surge in hybrid seed adoption to meet the escalating rice demand. Consequently, the rice cultivation area is poised for growth in the coming years.
• Projections indicate an expansion in Myanmar's rice cultivation area in the near future. In 2021, the Myanmar Rice Federation (MRF) introduced the Rice Portal Mobile Application, fostering connections between farmers and entrepreneurs. This tech-driven initiative by the MRF is expected to bolster rice production and fuel the demand for rice seeds in Myanmar. The surge in rice demand, coupled with the rising popularity of hybrid seeds, is set to propel the expansion of Myanmar's rice cultivation area in the coming years.

Rice varieties with resistance to viral and fungal diseases are in high demand to prevent high yield losses

• Rice dominates Myanmar's agricultural landscape, with farmers facing significant challenges from diseases like blast, brown spot, bacterial blight, sheath blight, and the highly destructive tungro virus. In fact, tungro is notorious for its devastating impact on rice crops, with susceptible varieties facing potential yield losses of up to 100% if infected at an early growth stage. As a result, farmers are increasingly seeking out disease-resistant rice seeds.
• With the unpredictability of weather patterns and the variability of agricultural land conditions, rice growers are selecting varieties that can thrive under a wide range of environmental stresses. These include resistance to lodging, drought tolerance, and the ability to adapt to different soil types. Key industry players, such as Bayer AG, S L Agritech, and Myanma Awba Group, are responding to these needs by providing seeds that ensure successful cultivation even during off-seasons and under challenging conditions, such as lodging resistance, drought tolerance, and adaptability to different soil conditions.
• Improved seed varieties are becoming a cornerstone for farmers in Myanmar, who are leveraging these advancements to mitigate crop losses and enhance yield. These superior varieties offer increased productivity, robustness against a spectrum of stressful conditions, and diminished disease vulnerability, making them a valuable asset for the agricultural sector.
• Given the rising disease prevalence and the country's increasing rice consumption, companies are actively investing in technologies tailored to local conditions. This strategic focus is expected to fuel the demand for rice seeds with enhanced traits in the coming years.

Myanmar Rice Seed Industry Overview

The Myanmar Rice Seed Market is moderately consolidated, with the top five companies occupying 53.37%. The major players in this market are Bayer AG, Dagon Group of Companies, Groupe Limagrain, Myanma Awba Group and SL Agritech Corporation (SLAC) (sorted alphabetically).

Additional Benefits:

• The market estimate (ME) sheet in Excel format
• 3 months of analyst support

This product will be delivered within 2 business days.