Rice yields in the delta are relatively better than rice yields in other parts of the country due to the increasing use of modern rice varieties along with intensive use of fertilizers. The utilization rate of chemical fertilizers in the delta happens to be the highest among the agricultural regions in Myanmar. In terms of irrigated capacity, about 50 percent of total irrigated area is in the delta. The common type of irrigation usually seen here is the drainage-type irrigation system. If agricultural intensification is to be considered the major concern, the nature and production processes of both monsoon and summer paddy rice and other types of agricultural production (e.g.,fish farming) will have to be properly addressed. Before 1991-92, the traditional practice was monoculture rice cultivation. Some of the rice varieties grown in the delta region were local varieties which took about six to seven months from planting to maturation and harvest. Among these varieties was the late-maturing nga kywe, which was of such high quality and good repute that it occupied an important position in the export market before 1988. At present, farmers grow rice on a double-cropping basis, using different varieties with short maturation periods. Many of these are cross-breeds and varieties from the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI). On the macroeconomic level, rice is critically important for economic and political reasons. As rice is the country’s staple food, any agricultural policy aimed at economic development will have to focus on rice. It is, therefore, one of the major objectives of Myanmar’s agriculture sector to produce surplus paddy rice for domestic consumption and for export. Table 2.6 shows the sown area of different crops in Ayeyarwady Delta. The size of the sown area devoted rice in the delta region hints at its importance among cereal crops and why policies on rice have been prioritized.