Myanmar: IRRI alumnus named Permanent Secretary in agriculture ministry

Dr. U Tin Htut, one of the 2010 IRRI Outstanding Alumni (rice research management), was appointed Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation in Myanmar

IRRI alumnus Dr. U Tin Htut was appointed as Permanent Secretary of the Myanmar Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation (MoAI) on 1 September.

Dr. Htut was recognized in 2010 as one of IRRI’s outstanding alumni in the field of rice research management. As an IRRI Ph.D. scholar, he studied plant breeding at the University of the Philippines Los Baños from 1996 to 2000, and, while he was with the Myanmar Department of Agricultural Research, he continued collaborative work with IRRI in breeding rice varieties resistant to bacterial blight disease. In 2003, he was invited as a research fellow in the Institute to assist in the genetic analysis of iron-dense grains.

As Permanent Secretary of MoAI, Dr. Htut will be coordinating the seven departments under the ministry, and serve as secretariat for the minister and assist him in managing MoAI.

Dr. Htut played a significant role in the development of the Myanmar Rice Sector Development Strategy, which was launched on 20 May in Nay Pyi Taw, having served as a former consultant for the country’s National Medium-term Priority Framework project.

Dr. Htut believes that IRRI has a huge contribution to Myanmar’s rice sector as the country aims to regain its place as one of the major players in the global rice market.