Table 2.5 shows the sown acreage of paddy rice from 1962 to 2008. It was clearly seen that in 2007—08, the total sown area devoted to rice was found almost double of 1962-63. Statistics in table 2.5 indicate that the total sown area of rice in the delta was more than 25 percent of the sown area for rice nationwide. Almost 80 percent of the total summer paddy rice in the country was also grown in the delta, underscoring the fact that the delta is the most significant and vital agricultural area in Myanmar.