Myanmar yields over 19.8 mln tons o

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Myanmar yields over 19.8 mln tons of paddy in 1999-2000

DATELINE: YANGON, August 30

BODY:
Xinhua, Rangoon, 30 August, 2000.  Myanmar yielded over 19.8 million tons 
of paddy
in fiscal year 1999-2000, which ended in March, becoming the largest output 
in the
country's history of paddy production, official newspaper The New Light of 
Myanmar
reported Wednesday.

The output was gained out of over 6.07 million hectares cultivated, Second 
Secretary
of the Myanmar State Peace and Development Council Lieutenan-General Tin Oo 
was
quoted as saying.

The country targets to produce 20.9 million tons of paddy.

Meanwhile, Myanmar exported 53,700 tons of rice in 1999-2000, according to the
country's Central Statistical Organization.

Paddy is one of Myanmar's four main agricultural crops. The other three are 
beans
and pulses, cotton and sugarcane.

Since January 1999, Myanmar has started to lease out 400,000 hectares of 
vacant
and virgin lands for cultivation to private entrepreneurs and introduce 
policies to
promote its agricultural development, including those exempting the import 
duties
on agricultural implements.

Myanmar's agriculture accounts for 37 percent of the gross domestic product
and 25 percent of the export value.