Benchmarks for improved productivity and profitability of monsoon rice in lower Myanmar

•Productivity of monsoon rice in Myanmar needs to improve from a low base.•Socioeconomic and biophysical data for this study were sourced from 100 rice-farming households.•Benchmarks for grain yield, gross margin and N, P and K inputs were derived.•A key factor in rice productivity was a prior legume crop.•Benchmarking and farmer participation could be core elements of future RD&E of rice cropping.