SSBU

ABSTRACT

Myanmar, being an agriculture based country, increasing agricultural productivity is very important for the country's economy. Food, the essential need for man and animal primarily comes from plants in the form of cereals, pulses, vegetables and fruits. The agricultural products of Shan State, one of the high agricultural producing state of Myanmar were not only transported to the other divisions and States of Myanmar but some are exported to other countries especially China. Most of the local people of this study area earned their living by agriculture for generations.

The investigation on economic important plants were made in Lwekoe, Hptaungtaw, Kaungpo, Alegyaung, Myegyigon, Mgaungtaw, Yantwin village tracts of Yatsauk township, Southern Shan State during 2005 to 2007. Preliminary survey trips were made to three villages for each crop studied: Myegyigone, Thapyepinhla, Thayetthoepin, Kantalet, Myeni, Naungphan, Alegyaung, Kaungpo, Lwekoe for fruit crops, Lwekoe, Pinhpi, Myeni, Myegyigone, Myaungtaw, Nyaungpintha, Shinethe, Kaungpo for oil seed crops and Pinhpi, Myeni, Shinthe, Hpaungtaw, Alegyaung, Kaungpo, for the other economic crops. Interviews with the growers and collection of agronomic data were undertaken. The data concerning with economic important plants such as cultural practices, yield, selling prices, marketing, transporting condition were recorded and presented with relevant photographs. The data analyses of cost, income, profit of agricultural products of farms each crop were presented in tables and graphs.

Economic analysis data indicated that a:nong the fruit crops, sweet orange was the most profitable crop per acre but the highest percent of profit was obtained from mango (sein-ta-lone) because the investment per acre was lesser. Thus local people are starting to grow mango (sein-ta-lone), more than other fruit crops.

Among oil seed crops, groundnut was the most profitable crop per acre as well as the highest percent of profit, although the profit per acre of sunflower was lower the percent of profit was more or less the same as groundnut. It was also found that although the profit of niger seed was lower, it is grown more than other oil seed crops because it can be exported to other countries.

Comparing all the ten economic crops studied the most profitable crop both per acre and percentage was garlic followed by soybean and then by groundnut and sunflower. Strawberry was the least profitable crops and was cultivated in small area only.

The yield of the crops was also found to depend on the cultural practices of the villages that employ suitable land preparation, spacing; application of sufficient irrigation fertilizer and insecticides. PhD Department Of Botany, University Of Yangon 2008

Includes References and Appendices

CONTENTS

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

ABSTRACT

GENERAL INTRODUCTION

CHAPTER I

FRUIT CROPS

1.1 Introduction

1.2 Literature Review

1.3 Methodology

1.4 Results

1.4.1 Mango

1.4.2 Orange

1.4.3 Sweet Orange

1.4.4 Strawberry

1.4.5 Comparative economic analysis of the fruit crops

1.5 Discussion

CHAPTER II

OIL SEED CROPS

2.1 Introduction

2.2 Literature Review

2.3 Methodology

2.4 Results

2.4.1 Groundnut

2.4.2 Niger

2.4.3 Sunflower

2.4.4 Comparative economic analysis of the oil seed crops

2.5 Discussion

CHAPTER III

OTHER ECONOMIC CROPS

Introduction 3.1

3.2 Literature Review

3.3 Methodology

3.4 Results

3.4.1 Maize

3.4.2 Soybean

3.4.3 Garlic

3.4.4 Comparative economic analysis of the other economic crops

3.4.5 Comparative economic analysis all the economic crops studied

3.5 Discussion

GENERAL DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION

RECOMMADATION

REFERENCES

APPENDICES Wai Wai Naing A Study On Economically Important Plants In Yatsauk Township, Southern Shan State