The country needs to control illegal outflows of rice to other countries including China and to systematically store rice for the country’s food security, said Yangon Region Chief Minister Phyo Min Thein.

Last year, the rice export industry achieved great successes. But increasing effects of global warming caused by climate changes is highly likely to have an impact on crop plantations, he added.

Nay Lin Zin, General Secretary of Myanmar Rice Millers Association said: “The monsoon paddy harvest season is approaching. Thousands tons of newly-harvested paddy are being exported to China via illegal routes. The association has reported it to the relevant ministries. But the ministries are not in a position to control illegal outflows of paddy.”

It has been around three years merchants started exporting large volumes of rice to China illegally.