Background brief History
Policies
and Objectives
Scetorial policies and principle objectives of the livestock and
fisheries sector are:-
- To promote all round development in the
livestock and fishery sector.
- To increase meat and fish production for
domestic consumption
- To encourage the expansion of marine and
fresh water aquaculture
- To upgrade the socio-economic status of
livestock and fisheries communities.
Set-up
of the Ministry
Six government institutions are assigned to carry
out the Ministry's policies and objectives namely-
- Directorate of Livestock and Fisheries
- Department of Fisheries
- Livestock Breeding and Veterinary Department
- Livestock, Feedstuff and Milk products
Enterprise
- University of Veterinary Science
- Bee-keeping Division.
Functions of the Ministry (Departmental-wise)
Directorate of Livestock and
Fisheries: It is headed by a Director-General and directly
responsible to the Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries and formulate
plans, Coordinates, supervises, monitors and evaluates the performance
of the livestock and fisheries sector of the Union of Myanmar. the
Directorate also gives guidance on formulation of projects and conducts
foreign relations.
Department of Fisheries: Headed
by a Director-General and is responsible for the management of
fisheries, services, conduct research and compilation of fishery
statistics of the Union of Myanmar.
Livestock Breeding and Veterinary
Department: Headed by a Director-General and is responsible
for the development and animal health of the Livestock industry of
Myanmar. The Department is also responsible for conducting research and
training, production of vaccines, and providing extension services to
the farmers of the Union of Myanmar.
Livestock Feedstuff and Milk Products
Enterprise: Headed by a Managing Director. It is a State
owned organization engaged in demonstrating farming of animals including
draft and dairy cattle. It also produces animal feeds, feed supplements
and distributes pedigree stocks.
University of Veterinary Science:
Headed by a Rector and is responsible for training Veterinary graduates
who are qualified in harmony with the developing system. The
university is also responsible for producing graduates capable of
participating in promoting public health status and quality food
production.
Bee-keeping Division: Headed by a
Director this Division assists farmers to increase their agriculture
production through Pollination Extension services are also provided to
farmers who are engaged in beekeeping as a secondary Livelihood.
Livestock and Fisheries in Myanmar's Economy
Agriculture, which include, food crops, estate crop, livestock,
fisheries and forestry is an important segment of for Myanmar's economy.
Livestock and fisheries contributed 7.9% to the National GDP and 18.4%
to the agriculture GDP in 1999-2000 fiscal year. During that period, the
growth rate of livestock and fisheries sector was 16.5%.
University of Veterinary Science, Yezin
The Veterinary College, a Faculty of the University of Rangoon was
founded in 1957. In 1964 the College became " The Institute of
Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Science, a separate institute under the
Department of Higher Education, Ministry of Education on 31 December
1994, the institute came under the administration of the Ministry of
Livestock and Fisheries.
With the view to facilitate communications with Universities, Colleges
and Faculties from abroad, the name "Institute of Animal Husbandry
and Veterinary Science was formally changed to "The University of
Veterinary Science, on October 1999.
Like the Faculties of Veterinary Medicine in most ASEAN countries,
the duration of study in University of Veterinary Science, Yezin is five
years. After successful completion of the course, "Bachelor of
Veterinary Science (B.V.Sc) degree is conferred.
Postgraduate courses leading to M.Phil, M.V.Sc and M.Sc were
introduced in 1980.
Investment opportumties in the Fisheries Sector
Fisheries in Myanmar can be classified into freshwater fisheries
and marine fisheries. Freshwater fisheries are mainly of the nature of
flood fisheries made possible through vast river system and heavy rain
fall . Myanmar has a long coastline of 2832 kilometers. The total
area of swamps along the coast is about 0.5 million haetares which
provides a very good basic for the development of shrimps culture. The continental
shelf cover 228, 781 sq kilometers and Myanmar's exclusive economic zone
is 486,000 sq kilometers wide. According to surveys and research
undertaken in marine fisheries, the Maximum Sustainable Yield (MSY) of
the Union of Myanmar is estimated at about 1.05 million metric tons per
year, out of which 0.87 million metric tons was exploited during last
year.
