The Myanmar authorities have warned private companies and entrepreneurs engaged in agricultural undertakings to fully use the vacant and virgin lands in northernmost state of Kachin allotted by the state to grow perennial crops.

A statement of the Kachin State Peace and Development Council released on Sunday said 311 private companies and 164 entrepreneurs have been allotted by the state with such lands for cultivation of the perennial crop plantations.

However, it said these lands have not been fully used for such activities on finding.

The council said if the allotted lands were not used for such cultivation until the end of this year's rainy season (by October), they will be confiscated by the state.

With an aim to expand cultivable land, private entrepreneurs and companies are allowed to reclaim vacant, fallow, virgin and wet lands across the country's states and divisions.

Agriculture sector, the mainstay of Myanmar's economy, contributes 50.1 percent to the national economy and achieved an average annual growth rate of 9.8 percent according to official statistics. For the development of the sector, emphasis has been placed on ensuring self-sufficiency and surplus for export.

Out of the total cultivable land of 17.4 million hectares, the net sown area was 10.8 million hectares, or 62 percent, so there is vast potential for further development of the sector.

Myanmar's principal crops are paddy, beans and pulses, oil crops, cotton, sugarcane and culinary crops.