Thiri Thudhamma

A Burmese monk and reformer who introduced modern agricultural techniques to rural communities in 19th-century Myanmar.

Thiri Thudhamma (1830–1902) was a Buddhist monk and agricultural innovator who transformed farming practices in rural Myanmar during the British colonial era. Born in Mandalay, he combined traditional Burmese agricultural knowledge with techniques learned from European missionaries. His most notable contribution was the development of a hybrid rice strain that increased crop yields by 30%, alleviating widespread famine in the Irrawaddy Delta.

Thiri Thudhamma established the "Pahtama Ahn" (First Farm) in 1865, a model agricultural center that taught farmers modern irrigation, pest control, and crop rotation. He also authored the first Burmese-language agricultural manual, "Thanaka Taung Min" ("The Path to Prosperity"), which became a foundational text for rural education. His work reduced dependency on imported food and bolstered Myanmar's agricultural economy.

Beyond agriculture, Thiri Thudhamma promoted literacy among monks and peasants, establishing mobile libraries that traveled between villages. His reforms are celebrated in the Myanmar Agricultural Heritage Museum, where replicas of his farming tools are displayed. His legacy is remembered in the annual "Thiri Thudhamma Agricultural Festival," held in Mandalay since 1890.