Prevent the loss of cultivable lands in various forms

Myanmar, being an agro-based country, is home to vast farmlands and croplands, primarily located in river valleys and along the banks of rivers and creeks. The fertile alluvial soils in these regions are ideal for crop cultivation. However, natural disasters, especially flooding, frequently devastate these agricultural areas, destroying crops and paddy plantations during crucial growing periods. Floods not only damage property but also wipe out thousands of acres of crops in a short time, severely impacting rural communities reliant on agriculture and livestock.
The loss of croplands leads to a downward spiral in the socioeconomic conditions of these communities, causing food shortages and undermining food security. Additionally, the rising costs of agricultural inputs such as fuel, fertilizers, and pesticides exacerbate the challenges faced by farmers. As a result, if farmers’ investments in agriculture decline, it poses a significant threat to the nation’s food security.
Preventive measures against natural disasters, particularly flooding during the monsoon season, are essential for mitigating the damage to agricultural produce. Local authorities and farmers must collaborate to implement these measures in advance to protect their crops and farmlands as much as possible.
Moreover, the loss of agricultural lands due to various factors significantly hampers the productivity of Myanmar’s agriculture sector. Since 1988, land prices have been rising, leading wealthy individuals to acquire farmland for non-agricultural purposes, often illegally. This trend results in the conversion of valuable farmlands into residential areas and industrial estates, further diminishing the land available for agriculture. To prevent this, authorities and local farmers must work together to enforce laws and regulations that protect agricultural lands from misuse.
By addressing these issues through preventive measures and stricter regulations, not only farmers but also local authorities have to safeguard their cultivable lands, ensuring the sustainability of the agriculture sector and the well-being of its rural communities. It is necessary to protect cultivable lands against intentional or unintentional trespassing of other people in any way.
Actually, the loss of cultivable lands triggered by natural disasters or humans can harm the food security of the country to some extent in the long run. Hence, authorities need to systematically manage the prevention of loss of cultivable lands while reclaiming more farmlands and croplands to be able to produce agricultural products for the food security of the increasing population of the nation. If so, the country can minimize follow-up problems regarding the loss of cultivable lands in farmland utilization.