Assessment of post-harvest losses and carbon footprint in intensive lowland rice production in Myanmar

Abstract

This paper examines how a move from traditional post-harvest operations of smallholder rice farms in the Ayeyarwaddy delta, Myanmar, to improved post-harvest operations affected income, energy efficiency and greenhouse gas emissions (GHGE). Harvest and post-harvest losses were investigated in a field experiment with 5 replications per scenario. A comparative analysis on energy efficiency and cost-benefits was conducted for different practices of rice production from cultivation to milling. GHGE of different practices were also considered using a life-cycle assessment approach. The study demonstrates that the mechanized practices increased the net income by 30–50% compared with traditional practices. Despite using additional energy for machine manufacturing and fuel consumption, the mechanized practices significantly reduced postharvest losses and did not increase the total life-cycle enegy and GHGE. Combine harvesting helped to significantly reduce harvesting loss in a range of 3 to 7% (by weight of the rice product). Improved post-harvest management practices with a flatbed dryer and hermetic storage reduced the discoloration of rice grains by 3 to 4% and increased head-rice recovery by 20 to 30% (by weight of rice product). The research findings provide empirical evidence that improved post-harvest management of rice in the Ayeyarwaddy delta, compared to traditional post-harvest operations by smallholder farmers, reduce post-harvest losses and improve the quality of rice. The findings provide valuable information for policy makers involved in formulating evidence-based mechanization policies in South and Southeast Asia.

Rural development and transformation of the rice sector in Myanmar: Introduction of best management practices for sustainable rice agriculture

“…The slow institutional transformation due to deficient government services, insufficient investment in technology transfer, scarce value chain upgrading, and continuing infrastructural deficits accentuate Myanmar's lagging agricultural modernization process (Linn and Maenhout, 2019; OECD 2015; YuYu and Hye-Jung, 2015). Major difficulties rice farmers are confronted with are poor seed quality (Haggblade et al, 2014; Naing et al, 2008), inadequate use of agrochemical inputs and unsuitable practices (Naing et al, 2008; YuYu and Hye-Jung, 2015), land tenure insecurity, mandatory cropping regulations (OECD 2015; Tun et al, 2015), and inefficient postharvest processing (GRiSP 2013; Gummert et al, 2020; Myanmar Ministry of Commerce and International Trade Centre, 2015). These issues are not only caused by economic constraints but also by farmers’ low level of agricultural education and technical skills due to a weak agricultural extension system (Aung, 2011; World Bank, 2019; YuYu and Hye-Jung, 2015).…”

“…They found that profitability increased due to yield growth and reduced input and labour costs, but farmers would not adopt a practice if it was too expensive or unsuitable. Other relevant studies analysed specific factors separately, such as the impact of mechanization on rice production efficiency (Gummert et al, 2020) and stagnating productivity growth (Stuart et al, 2016). These investigations pointed out substantial elements for the agricultural inefficiency in rice farming and discussed agroeconomic issues considering one specific factor.…”

Can Southeast Asia continue to be a major rice bowl?

“…Even when yield potential can be increased, increasing production would still require continuous agronomic improvements to exploit the resulting larger yield gap. Finally, we recognize that, besides yield gap closure, there may be others opportunities to increase the total milled rice output, for example, by reducing harvest and post-harvest losses, and improving milling rates 45 .…”

Carbon Footprint Calculator Customized for Rice Products: Concept and Characterization of Rice Value Chains in Southeast Asia

“…Although hypothetical in nature, the assumptions of the individual scenarios are derived from broad empirical studies on rice value chains in the region [16,22]. While we recognize the heterogeneity of rice farming in Southeast Asia, this generalization seems justified to provide the bigger picture of the main drivers of the overall emissions and thus, the CF, for one of the major rice-growing regions of the world.…”