Abstract

• This paper presents the geographical assessment of betel plant environment, particularly on the distribution pattern of betel leaf cultivation in Pantanaw Township. There are two species of betel leaf in Pantanaw Township such as Myaungmya species and Gwa species. Betel leaf is grown in wet and hot seasons as cash crop in the nearly all parts of Pantanaw Township. With the increasing population in the study area, more people are engaged in agriculture activities including betel leaf cultivation. Betel leave are commercial products, mainly used for chewing, besides having significant medicinal properties and ceremonial events. Although betel leaf cultivation can provide relatively sustainable income of local people in the Pantanaw Township, it can damage indirectly human health. The betel leaf cultivation and spatial distribution patterns of betel quid shops are analyzed by using ArcMap GIS 10 software and quantitative analysis.