ABSTRACT
In the pre-war period, Burma, under British colonial tutelage, developed an extensive system by world standards for the collection of agricultural statistics. A wide range of data is available in statistical publications for the 1900-1930s period for Burma Proper (Upper and Lower Burma), which was directly administered by the British. Conversely, statistical coverage for the surrounding hill states of Burma does not appear to have been complete, but this had only a negligible long-term effect on rice series because little rice was produced in these areas. The post-World War II governments appear to have made few changes in colonial collecting and reporting procedures, which are similar to those used in India. However, little statistical material is available in the West for the post-war period. Burma is one of the few cases where pre-war statistics are more plentiful than post-war statistics.
