Cropping systems and production assessment in southern Myanmar: Informing strategic interventions

Cropland expansion into natural forests in the Kyunsu Township, southern Myanmar, has diminished the sustainability of natural resources in this area. Analyzing local cropping systems can help explore options for improving land productivity on the existing croplands. To achieve this, a study was conducted between June 2020 and June 2021, involving 301 farmers’ households within the township. The study focused on socioeconomic status, crop production characteristics, key soil properties, and production constraints. Hierarchical clustering on principal components was applied to identify the existing cropping systems. Subsequently, a comparative analysis of variables between identified cropping systems was performed. The findings revealed that in the plantation zone, the median gross value added (GVA) reached US$ 1,276 ha−1 year−1 for perennial monocropping and US$ 1,715 ha−1 year−1 for perennial-multiple cropping. These values were higher than the median GVAs of perennial monocropping (US$ 460 ha−1 year−1) and perennial-multiple cropping (US$ 474 ha−1 year−1) in the sea zone. In the lowland and sea zones, annual monocropping of rice had low median GVAs of 206 and US$ 165 ha−1 year−1, respectively. The combination of rice and perennial species in the lowland zone resulted in a higher median GVA (US$ 383 ha−1 year−1) compared to rice sole cropping in both the lowland and sea zones. Coupled with favorable soil properties, cropping systems that integrated perennial species, particularly multiple cropping with strategic input use, demonstrated enhanced land productivity. However, to optimize land productivity in these cropping systems, it is crucial to address major constraints, such as high input prices, poor soil quality, and scarcity of freshwater.