Workers at a state-run aquaculture farm in central Burma (Myanmar) harvest silver and pink carp with large nets from one of the many fishponds. FAO's fisheries programme is seeking to develop both commercial and small-scale aquaculture. - - General: General. The Socialist Republic of the Union of Burma (Myanmar) is seeking to expand its agricultural economy and improve its fisheries and forestry for its 40 million inhabitants, 80% of whom live in rural areas. Per capita income is still below USD 200 a year, the unemployment rate among the nation's labour force of 15.5 million is under 5% and Burma faces a multi-million Dollar foreign trade deficit and a mounting national debt. In 1986, there were 29 development projects assisted by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), including 13 major projects in agriculture, four in forestry and two in fisheries, funded by trust funds from donor nations or the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). FAO's Technical Cooperation Programme (TCP) is funding another ten short-term projects.