YANGON, March 18 (Xinhua) -- Myanmar is preparing to enter the international paddy seed market, with plans to begin exports as early as 2026, according to the Myanmar Rice Federation (MRF) on Wednesday.

The initiative, jointly led by the Department of Agriculture and the MRF, will target key regional markets including the Philippines, Bangladesh, Indonesia and Pakistan, MRF Chairman U Ye Min Aung told Xinhua.

Paddy seed is considered a high-value agricultural product. While ordinary paddy for milling typically trades at around 300 U.S. dollars per tonne, high-quality certified seeds can fetch between 700 and 800 dollars per tonne, offering a significant opportunity to boost export earnings, he said.

"Paddy seed is extremely valuable and represents a strategic opportunity for Myanmar to move toward higher-value agricultural exports," he noted.

The primary objective of this initiative is to increase Myanmar's agricultural export revenue, while also enhancing the seed production industry and encouraging the growth of a structured seed export sector, he said.

By promoting systematic seed production, certification and quality assurance, the program is expected to strengthen the entire value chain and contribute to higher productivity, he said.

As a result, farmers engaged in seed production can achieve significantly improved incomes, with the potential to double their earnings, he added.

Beyond commercial gains, paddy seed exports will also drive both technical and commercial development in Myanmar's agriculture sector, he said.

Advancements in seed breeding, varietal development, certification systems and post-harvest handling will improve the overall competitiveness of Myanmar's rice industry, he added.

At the same time, the emergence of a dedicated seed export segment will open new business opportunities for agribusiness enterprises, U Ye Min Aung said.

Myanmar's entry into the paddy seed export market represents a strategic shift toward value-added agriculture, positioning the country not only as a rice exporter but also as a reliable regional supplier of high-quality paddy seeds, he said.

With strong collaboration between public and private stakeholders, this initiative will further stimulate the seed industry and encourage sustainable seed export development, unlocking new growth opportunities across the entire rice value chain, he added. ■