Growing Together

Policies that enable rural communities
to participate in expanding economic opportunities can be
central to inclusive growth in Myanmar. Rural communities
are home to the majority of Myanmar’s population, the
majority of its many ethnic groups, and 70 percent of its
poor. Development in rural areas is constrained by low
returns to agriculture, and significantly lower levels of
public service delivery and human development outcomes
relative to urban areas. Reforms to enhance agriculture
productivity are necessary though not sufficient for
improving the welfare and livelihoods of rural communities.
These have to be complemented with increased access to
social and economic services that can raise human and
physical capacity to create the conditions necessary for the
growth of a dynamic rural non-farm sector. These reforms
could help to not only reduce the drag on rural growth and
poverty reduction, but also contribute to structural
economic transformation so that the welfare of all people in
Myanmar can grow together.