'Food security is said to exist when all people, at all times, have physical and economic access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food to meet their dietary needs and food preferences for an active and healthy life.' - SCOPING STUDY ON FOOD SECURITY AND NUTRITION INFORMATION IN MYANMAR (May 2011)
Myanmar has a diverse range of agricultural zones with varying climatic conditions and land quality. This has enabled the country to be largely self‐sufficient in basic food commodities, with production of rice, pulses and fish in most years. As such, Myanmar is generally food secure at the national level, with a potentially important role to play in regional food security, by helping to fill the gaps of food deficit countries in Asia.
Myanmar is located in Southeast Asia. Since gaining independence the production of rice in Myanmar has stalled. Whilst other Asian countries modernized their agriculture (called the 'Green Revolution'), Myanmar fell behind. Myanmar has one of the lowest population densities in the region. The land is resource-rich and perfectly suitable for agriculture. Therefore, over half the population attribute agriculture as their main source of work.
Food security can be defined as "access by all to sufficient food for an active, healthy life". Food security depends on accessibility more than availability. People can't always access the available food due to economic, social or political issues.
