From April to June, the Myanmar Rice Traders’ Association conducted a survey of farmers, the homeless and the urban population to examine annual individual rice consumption, changes in consumption when income increases and money spent on rice.

The survey, based on 2014 nationwide census data, focused on 24,200 people from 5,130 households – 1,710 rural homes, 1,480 homeless families and 1,940 urban households.

According to the survey, average annual per-capita rice consumption was 155 kilograms. The minimum was 43kg and the maximum 326kg.

The average urban consumption was 133kg, the homeless consumed 160kg and farmers ate 176kg. According to the Central Statistical Organisation, the percentage of income spent on food was 73 per cent in 1989, 71 per cent in 1997, 72 per cent in 2001, 64 per cent in 2005, 70 per cent in 2006 and 64 per cent in 2012.

The decline suggested poverty was falling.

Poor households

“Most households are still poor as they have to spend more than half of their income on food. People spend less money on food when their incomes increase. It is a good indication,” said Dr Theingi Myint, associate professor from the Yezin Agricultural University in Nay Pyi Taw

According to the survey, 10 per cent of urban income was spent on rice while it is 15 per cent in rural areas.

Aung Than Oo, chair of the Rice Traders’ Association, said: “We can control the rice market and export volumes only when the country’s approximate consumption is known.”