A New Agriculture App Could Usher In A 'Golden' Era For Myanmar Farmers

Farmers working at a farm in Nyaung Don township in Myanmar's Irrawaddy Region in November 2016. (Photo credit: YE AUNG THU/AFP/Getty Images)

In many ways, Myanmar’s agricultural industry holds an enviable position in Southeast Asia. The country is home to “unusually fertile soils and abundant water source[s]” and is said to have “the most favorable agricultural conditions in all of Asia,” according to the World Bank. A wide range of crops can thrive in Myanmar, and agriculture makes up 38 percent of the country’s GDP.

Yet production and profits are lower than in other Southeast Asian countries, problems the World Bank attributes at least in part to a lack of support and education for farmers. Issues such as scarce fertilizer use or poorly mixed fertilizers could be mitigated by information campaigns that set farmers up for success.

 

Opportunities to diversify crops beyond rice would enable farmers to increase their incomes and contribute to a more robust economy as well.

While the World Bank notes that public policies must shift in order for real improvements to take hold, one new company is doing its part to boost outcomes for Myanmar’s farmers regardless of the government's approach.

Impact Terra launched in 2016 with the aim of providing digital solutions to rural farmers’ most common issues.

“I noticed that most farmers in Myanmar possess a smartphone, but that there is no proper apps or local content that is useful to improve their daily farming practices,” said Impact Terra’s Founder and CEO Erwin Sikma.

“Myanmar struggles with inefficient farming methods and use of land. By providing access to information that can improve this productivity, we can improve the lives of the farming communities of Myanmar,” he added. 

“Farmers are also disconnected from markets and proper financing options. Our platform also provides access to these buyers, sellers and service providers.”

Impact Terra’s core offering is its Shwe Thee Nhan, or “Golden Paddy,” app. Farmers can download the app and input information about where they’re located and what types of crops they grow. 

The service then customizes app content based on their circumstances, offering information on weather forecasts, crop market prices, best practices, financing opportunities and other valuable data.