Irrigation in Burma: An overview

Spatial and temporal variations in the availability of water for cultivation has given rise to the critical importance of irrigation in the Burmese economy. Recently Burma has increased its investment by 25 to 30 million dollars for irrigation development projects. Since the projects have been mainly focused on medium and large‐scale operations, Burma has encountered problems such as the inadequacy of basic data, shortage of skilled labourers and inadequacy of financial resources. Existing underutilized systems and low acreage under multiple cropping suggest a need for emphasis on vertical expansion rather than horizontal extension.