2-Plants: China supports Myanmar introducing GE crops

[GENET <hmeyer@ngi.de>]

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TITLE:  Farm sector evaluates genetic advances
SOURCE: The Myanmar Times, Volume 8, No.158, by Khin Maung Soe
        http://www.myanmar.com/myanmartimes/
DATE:   Mar 17 - 23, 2003

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Farm sector evaluates genetic advances

GENETICALLY Modified Organisms had the potential to sharply increase farm
sector output but needed to be treated with care, an agriculturalist with
Myanma Agriculture Services, said last week. GMOs "could be a tool for
igniting a second revolution in agriculture," said Dr Khin Maung Thet,
after the 'green revolution' in the 1960s which resulted in a sharp
increase in rice production in Asia through the development of new, high-
yielding varieties. The MAS, under the Ministry of Agriculture and
Irrigation, was conducting training courses for selected members of its
staff to introduce them to the technology involved in the development of
GMOs. The courses, which focused on the theoretical side of the
technology, also covered the advantages and disadvantages of using
genetically-modified seeds and plants, Dr Khin Maung Thet said. He said
China planned to provide technical and financial assistance to Myanmar in
GMO technology. Selected personnel from the ministry would receive
advanced training in China. It would be followed by training in Myanmar
by Chinese specialists in the techniques for developing GMO technology.
Research programs would initially focus on industrial crops such as
cotton and jute and ensure that they could be safely grown.
Comprehensively-trained personnel will be a paramount factor in this
technology," said Dr Khin Maung Thet. He said the food and agriculture
industries in Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand were steadily expanding
their use of GMO technology following research projects which had shown
positive results. One of the most outstanding success stories had been in
the development of genetically-modified cotton. One of the aims of the
training programs is to provide Myanmar with the capacity to monitor
imports of genetically-modified seeds and plants to ensure that they do
not have any negative effects. "Careful consideration is needed to make
sure GMOs crops will not cause harm to humans, animals and the
environment," said Dr Khin Maung Thet. The agriculture sector is the
backbone of the Myanmar economy, contributing 34 per cent of gross
domestic product, 23pc of total export earnings and employing 63pc of the
labour force.