Food Security in Burma/Myanmar - web searches, specialised groups, reports and statistics

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Websites/Multiple Documents

Description: Established in 2002 the FSWG has provided an effective forum for the networking, capacity building & knowledge sharing for organizations and individuals interested in working on food security and livelihood related issues...ONLINE PUBLICATIONS ON FOOD SECURITY IN VARIOUS LANGUAGES OF BURMA
Source/publisher: Food Security Working Group
Date of entry/update: 2012-04-24
Grouping: Websites/Multiple Documents
Language: English
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Description: About 45,800,000 results (July 2018)
Source/publisher: www via google
Date of entry/update: 2018-07-05
Grouping: Websites/Multiple Documents
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Description: Regular publication
Source/publisher: World Food Programme (Yangon)
Date of entry/update: 2010-10-10
Grouping: Websites/Multiple Documents
Language: English
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Description: "LIFT is a multi-donor trust fund that improves the lives and prospects of rural poor people in Myanmar, with generous contributions from the United Kingdom, European Union, Australia, Denmark, France, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Switzerland, Sweden, and the United States of America. From the private sector, the Mitsubishi Corporation is a donor. To date, the donors have committed more than USD 400 million to LIFT. LIFT is much more than a funding body. Aside from financing 147 projects to date, LIFT provides technical expertise, targeted research and its position of oversight to improve programme design and cohesion for better overall impact. LIFT also works closely with the Government of Myanmar to promote pro-poor policies. LIFT?s goal is to sustainably reduce the number of people in Myanmar living in poverty and hunger, and to ensure that Myanmar?s rural transformation is inclusive. We work to achieve these four outcomes: *Increased incomes of rural households *Increased resilience of poor rural households and communities to setbacks and change *Improved nutrition of women, men and children *Improved policies and effective public expenditure for pro-poor rural development"
Source/publisher: Lift Fund
Date of entry/update: 2016-07-31
Grouping: Websites/Multiple Documents
Language: English
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Description: "Which is more important: a full stomach or equal protection under the law? Most people would hesitate to answer. It?s a false choice that ignores the interdependence of economic and civil rights, which proposes that the hungry will be nourished by law and order, while the well-fed are fortified against dysfunctional courts. This May 2003, the Asian Legal Resource Centre announced the launch of the Permanent People?s Tribunal on the Right to Food and the Rule of Law in Asia. The Tribunal comes at a time when many governments still assert that economic and social rights can be addressed separately from civil and political rights. In fact, no rights are guaranteed without effective laws to secure them and ensure redress for victims. Without equitable and enforceable laws, the product of a farmer?s plough is no more secure than the product of a journalist?s pen... Read more..." This page also contains specific reports on violations of the right to food in Burma.
Source/publisher: Asian Legal Resource Centre
2003-04-00
Date of entry/update: 2003-06-03
Grouping: Websites/Multiple Documents
Language: English, Burmese (မြန်မာဘာသာ)
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Description: Flood and other assistance reports.
Source/publisher: World Food Program
Date of entry/update: 2015-10-03
Grouping: Websites/Multiple Documents
Language: English
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Description: About 28,200 results (August 2017)
Source/publisher: Various sources via Youtube
Date of entry/update: 2017-08-20
Grouping: Websites/Multiple Documents
Language: English, Burmese (မြန်မာဘာသာ)
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Individual Documents

Topic: Nutrition, Malnutrition, Health, Myanmar
Topic: Nutrition, Malnutrition, Health, Myanmar
Description: "High up in the Thangmual Hills in north-western Myanmar’s Chin State, Nu Lun dreams of her seven-month-old daughter growing up to be strong and clever. Like most mothers, Nu Lun wants the best for her child, but she is unsure about the right way to feed her little one. Nu Lun lives in a wooden cabin with her baby daughter, husband, mother-in-law and 12-year-old nephew. She buys rice and oil from the market, but most of the family’s food comes from their home garden and farm where her husband works. To learn about nutrition, Nun Lun attends the local women’s group run by the auxiliary midwife in Tedim. Her mother-in-law also influences her, telling her the things her baby should and should not eat and how to prepare the food. Nu Lun’s daughter often refuses to eat new foods, struggling with the textures and unable to swallow them. So Nu Lun finds herself reverting to giving her baby girl just breast milk and rice soup. “They tell us about the extra foods we should give our baby, but my daughter spits them out. They are too coarse for her, so I just give her rice soup and breast,” explains Nu Lun while cooking traditional Chin corn soup for the rest of the family. Other mothers are apparently also confused about what supplementary foods they should give their babies at what ages. Struggling to understand the food charts, they worry about their children choking..."
Source/publisher: UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) (Myanmar)
2019-10-23
Date of entry/update: 2019-11-10
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language:
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Description: "After late start, near-average monsoon rains facilitated plantings and early crop development Rice exports in 2019 forecast at above-average level Wholesale prices of “Emata” rice increased seasonally in June but remained below last year’s levels Persistent conflicts severely affect large numbers of people After late start, near-average monsoon rains facilitated plantings and crop development Planting of the predominantly rainfed main season paddy crop, which accounts for more than 80 percent of the annual production, normally starts in May, with the onset of the monsoon rains, and continues until July. In 2019, the monsoon rains started in the second dekad of June, almost three weeks later than the normal onset. Since then, near‑average rainfall favoured planting operations and improved vegetation conditions of germinating crops in the main paddy producing areas. Between May and June, well below-average rains were reported in some important rice producing areas, including Sagaing and Mandalay regions (both located in the central dry zone and in part irrigated) and Shan State. Rainfed parts in these areas have already exhibited below-normal vegetation conditions, rising concerns on the impact on yield potential (see VHI map). A short period of torrential rains in the first dekad of July increased river levels, causing flooding and minor crop losses in localized areas of Kachin, Rakhine, Chin and Mon states, and Bago and Sagain regions. Overall, the area planted is estimated to be close to the previous year’s high level supported by strong domestic demand and the effects of the official programmes promoting rice production. The 2019 secondary season crops, for harvest in the second quarter of 2020, will be planted at the end of the year. Planting of the 2019 main maize crop started in June and is expected to continue until August. Below-average rains in June in key producing areas, including Shan State and Sagain Region, caused some delays to planting operations. However, if rains improve in the next weeks, it is still possible that planted area reaches the previous year’s high level. Maize is expected to be a preferred crop by farmers due to strong demand from the domestic feed market and from China (Mainland). Some concerns exist due to localized damages caused by Fall Armyworm (FAW). According to the latest information from Myanmar’s Plant Protection Division, so far, the FAW affected only 5 200 hectares or about 1 percent of the 2019 main crop, mostly in Shan State and Bago and Sagaing regions. Rice exports in 2019 forecast at above‑average level Rice exports in 2019 are forecast at 2.4 million tonnes, well above the five-year average, on expectations of ample exportable availabilities and increased demand, particularly from China (Mainland). In 2019, the two countries have signed some agreements aiming at facilitating trade. The country exports also small quantities of maize. In the 2019/20 marketing year (July/June), maize exports are forecast to be close to the previous record level, reflecting the continuing strong demand from China (Mainland). Wholesale prices of “Emata” rice increased seasonally in June Wholesale prices of “Emata” rice (known as “Indica” rice), the most consumed variety in the country, registered steady declines between March and May 2019, weighed by the 2018 bumper harvests and lower demand for exports. In June, prices increased by 6 percent in line with seasonal trends, reflecting tightening market availabilities. Overall, in June, prices were below their year-earlier levels. Persistent conflicts severely affect large numbers of people Persistent conflicts since the resurgence of violence in Rakhine State in late August 2017 triggered large-scale population displacement. According to the latest data from UNOCHA (May 2019), an estimated 160 000 people were internally displaced in Rakhine State and 106 500 in Kachin and northern Shan states. In Rakhine State, the livelihoods of the affected population have been further exacerbated by limitations of movement. In addition, as of May 2019, an estimated 910 000 refugees from Myanmar sought refuge in Cox’s Bazar District in Bangladesh due to the ongoing conflict. Most IDPs are affected by high levels of food insecurity as the conflict is hampering the delivery of adequate humanitarian assistance and impending the restoration of local livelihoods. The July floods affected large numbers of people, displaced at least 21 000 individuals, resulted in losses of stored crops and seeds as well as small livestock..."
Source/publisher: reliefweb via Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
2019-07-19
Date of entry/update: 2019-07-24
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language:
Format : pdf
Size: 145.37 KB
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Description: "The 2017 Myanmar Living Conditions Survey (MLCS) was implemented by the Central Statistical Organization (CSO) in the Ministry of Planning and Finance (MOPF), with financial and technical support from the World Bank and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). The MLCS was conducted over a 12-month period from December 2016 to December 2017. It covered 13,730 households sampled countrywide. The MLCS had the following objectives: (i) provide updated estimates of poverty and living conditions at the national, urban/rural and state and region levels; (ii) inform national data needs and selected Sustainable Development Goal targets; (iii) construct consumption weights for the national and regional CPI baskets; and (iv) estimate private consumption expenditure for the System of National Accounts. This Poverty Report is the second in a series of three analytical reports: (i) Key Indicators Report; (ii) Poverty Report; and (iii) Socio-economic Report. It provides a basic diagnostic of poverty. The forthcoming and more detailed Socio-economic Report will feature an in-depth analysis of living conditions in Myanmar..."
Creator/author:
Source/publisher: World Bank
2019-06-26
Date of entry/update: 2019-07-09
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language:
Format : pdf pdf
Size: 6.77 MB 1.1 MB
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Description: "According to the World Trade Organization statistics for 2014, food products comprise the third most valuable commodity group traded globally, and imports constitute a significant proportion of food supplies. With the annual trade in food growing exponentially, imported food controls need to be strengthened to protect consumer health and ensure fair trade. In 2017, the Governments of Myanmar, Nepal, the Philippines and Sri Lanka worked under the FAO project entitled “Strengthening national capacity for risk-based food import control within a One Health framework” to improve national imported food control systems and ensure they are aligned with the relevant international guidelines developed by Codex Alimentarius..."
Source/publisher: Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)
2018-08-01
Date of entry/update: 2019-06-18
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language: English
Format : pdf
Size: 424.34 KB
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Description: "The FAO Office of Evaluation (OED) has been conducting country programme evaluations since 2005 to provide accountability to member countries, national governments and development partners, and draw lessons and suggestions for programme improvement. Myanmar was selected as one of the countries in which to carry out a Country Programme Evaluation (CPE) in 2016. The main factors that led the FAO Office of Evaluation (OED) and Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific (RAP) to select Myanmar are: i) the imminent end of Myanmar’s Country Programming Framework (CPF) in 2016, and ii) the coincident termination of the assignment of the FAO Country Representative. Since February 2016 Myanmar has a new democratic Government, with a non-military president. In this changing environment the CPE should contribute to support the new FAO Country Representative and the Government in identifying the future strategic direction of FAO programme in the country. The Terms of Reference (ToR) for the evaluation are the result of a preparatory phase, consisting of: a desk review of existing documentation, a preliminary analysis of FAO’s portfolio of work in Myanmar, a contextual analysis and scoping interviews with FAO staff at the country, regional levels and in headquarters. The ToR also benefited from discussions held during the inception mission carried out in December 2015. The evaluation team consulted with a wide range of stakeholders, including government officials, donors, United Nations agencies, and international nongovernmental organizations (NGOs). The emphasis of the CPE will be on evaluating themes and issues important to the FAO Programme in Myanmar. Individual projects will mostly not be evaluated in detail. This ToR will be the guiding document for the Evaluation Team and will be shared with counterparts in Myanmar, FAO staff in FAO Myanmar Country Office, FAO’s Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific (RAP) and FAO headquarters. Their purpose is to provide a description of the FAO Programme in Myanmar, identify key areas of work undertaken over the past five years, define the scope of the evaluation and outline the evaluation work plan. A set of overarching evaluation questions has been developed to further sharpen the objective and inform the methodology to be employed at different stages of this evaluation. The methodology and the evaluation tools will be further developed by the team over the course of the evaluation..."
Source/publisher: Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)
2017-11-01
Date of entry/update: 2019-06-18
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language: English
Format : pdf
Size: 679.89 KB
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Description: "Myanmar is at very high risk of continuing severe humanitarian needs in 2018, according to the OCHA-managed Index for Risk Management (INFORM) system. Inter-communal tensions, violence and natural disasters have displaced large numbers of people in Rakhine, Kachin and Shan States, threatening the agricultural livelihoods of hundreds of thousands of people. Across the country, some 241 000 displaced people – of which 77 percent are women and children – remain in camps or camp-like settings. Myanmar is one of the most disaster-prone countries in Asia and remains highly vulnerable to natural disasters, including cyclones, storms, floods and earthquakes. Promotion of disaster risk reduction approaches that help increase resilience of the most vulnerable populations remains critical. Some 778 815 people need food security support. They face limited access to sufficient, safe and nutritious foods and inadequate availability of diversified foods all year round. Populations in need include displaced people, returnees, vulnerable people in non-displaced communities and host communities. Small-scale farmers, livestock owners and fishers require agricultural assistance including crop, livestock and fishery inputs, support for vegetable gardening and infrastructure rehabilitation to enhance agricultural production and productivity. To enhance the resilience and promote the self-reliance of affected communities, it is necessary to restore, protect and improve livelihood opportunities to complement family income, improve economic access, reduce the use of negative coping mechanisms and increase availability of quality and diversified foods at community and household levels..."
Source/publisher: Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)
2018-01-01
Date of entry/update: 2019-06-18
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language: English
Format : pdf
Size: 4.02 MB
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Description: "The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) is implementing a project entitled “Sustainable Cropland and forest management in priority agro-ecosystems of Myanmar (SLM-GEF)” in coordination with the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Conservation (MoNREC) and the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation (MoALI) with funding from the Global Environment Facility (GEF). The project aims to facilitate and strengthen sustainable land management (SLM), sustainable forest management (SFM), and climate-smart agriculture (CSA). The project facilitates the adoption of climate smart agriculture (CSA) policies and practices that will help to sustainably increase productivity, enhance resilience (adaptation), reduce/remove GHGs (mitigation) and enhance achievement of national food security and development goals. The project intends to establish a national CSA/SLM training program mainstreaming CSA/SLM in the agriculture related training conducted by Department of Agriculture (DoA), State Agricultural Institutes (SAI), Department of Agriculture Research (DAR) and Yezin Agricultural University (YAU). The project will work with DoA, SAIs, DAR and YAU to integrate CSA within their research, training and development programs. The training program will vary with the need and nature of the institutions, for example;(1) one month training together with other subjects for the in-service or refresher course at Central Agriculture Research and Training Centre (CARTC), (2) one week intensive training of trainers (ToT) aiming for the senior extension agents of DoA, DAR and YAU, (3) CSA component integrated into the course for diploma students at SAIs, and (4) CSA component integrated into the course for bachelor and master's level at YAU. AVSI Foundation has been contracted to develop the Climate Smart Agriculture Curriculum and Handbook to be introduced and incorporated as a course (subject) into the existing education systems at different levels as mentioned above. This document will serve as the main resource/reference book for professors/lecturers/teachers from the different Departments at YAU to include the related topics on CSA into their courses for teaching the students..."
Source/publisher: Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)
2019-01-01
Date of entry/update: 2019-06-17
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language: English
Format : pdf
Size: 517.13 KB
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Description: "The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) is implementing a project entitled “Sustainable Cropland and forest management in priority agro-ecosystems of Myanmar (SLM-GEF)” in coordination with the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Conservation (MoNREC) and the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation (MoALI) with funding from the Global Environment Facility (GEF). AVSI Foundation has been contracted to develop the National Farmer Field School (FFS) curriculum and FFS Handbook. AVSI Foundation has developed a FFS curriculum/module on climate smart agriculture (CSA) techniques/practices for each selected agricultural crop and for each of the three agro-ecological zones incorporating solutions to the major problems identified during the need assessments and also considering the findings of value chain analysis. The Farmer Field School (FFS) is a learning process whereby a group of farmers come together and engage in a process of hands-on field-based learning process over a season/ production cycle. FFS is a time-bound learning by doing activity with a beginning and an end and aims to solve the problems related to cultivating crops. FFS is a platform for holistic learning, and should address issues and aspects that directly or indirectly contribute to the performance of the local farming system, even if these issues are not agriculture-based as such. All FFS programmes need to integrate programming on gender equality and nutrition concerns in FFS development. Gender norms, roles and customs are very relevant for FFS implementation such as assessment and targeting of the specific needs of male and female farmers, selection and gender awareness of facilitators, and composition of an FFS group (with adequate representation of women and girls) and targeting the specific needs and priorities of men and women. This module of FFS has been designed to increase agricultural productivity of the priority crops in Chin State (Mindat and Kanpetlet Townships) by addressing the challenges identified during the needs assessments based on knowledge systems and practices by FAO with support of AVSI as a Service Provider. During the need assessment cultural barriers for FFS implementation, gender norms, traditions, etc. were considered. Generally, it’s been observed that farmers, both men and women, have low knowledge of climate smart agriculture (CSA). The learning objectives of the proposed FFS modules are to: Empower farmers (both men and women) with knowledge and skills to improve the productivity of their main crops. • Sharpen the farmers’ ability to make critical and informed decisions that render their farming profitable and climate-smart for both male and female farmers. • To sensitize farmers in new ways of thinking and solve problems linked to climate changes. • Help farmers learn how to organize themselves and their communities, with a focus on women and girls..."
Source/publisher: Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)
2019-01-01
Date of entry/update: 2019-06-17
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language: English
Format : pdf
Size: 319.43 KB
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Description: "This policy brief summarizes the future smart foods that are suitable for agriculture in eight countries in Asia-Pacific..."
Source/publisher: Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)
2018-01-01
Date of entry/update: 2019-06-17
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language: English
Format : pdf pdf
Size: 21.96 MB 1.56 MB
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Description: "The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) is implementing a project entitled “Sustainable Cropland and forest management in priority agro-ecosystems of Myanmar (SLM-GEF)” in coordination with the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Conservation (MONREC) and the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation (MOALI) with funding from the Global Environment Facility (GEF). AVSI Foundation has been contracted to develop the National Farmer Field School (FFS) curriculum and FFS Handbook. AVSI Foundation has developed a FFS curriculum/module on climate smart agriculture (CSA) techniques/practices for each selected agricultural crop and for three agro-ecological zones incorporating solutions to the major problems identified during the needs assessments, also considering the findings of the value chain analysis. The Farmer Field School (FFS) is a learning process whereby a group of farmers come together and engage in a process of hands-on field-based learning process over a season/ production cycle. FFS is a time-bound learning by doing activity with a beginning and an end and aims to solve the problems related to cultivating crops. FFS is a platform for holistic learning and should address issues and aspects that directly or indirectly contribute to the performance of the local farming system, even if these issues are not agriculture-based as such. All FFS programmes need to integrate programming on gender equality and nutrition concerns in FFS development. Gender norms, roles and customs are very relevant for FFS implementation such as assessment and targeting of the specific needs of male and female farmers, selection and gender awareness of facilitators, and composition of an FFS group (with adequate representation of women and girls) and targeting the specific needs and priorities of men and women. This module of FFS has been designed to increase agricultural productivity of the priority crops in Central Dry Zone (Nyaung-U and Kyaukpadaung), by addressing the challenges identified during the needs assessment conducted based on knowledge systems and practices by FAO with support of AVSI as a Service Provider. During the need assessment cultural barriers for FFS implementation, gender norms, traditions, etc. were considered. Generally, it’s been observed that farmers, both men and women, have low knowledge of climate smart agriculture (CSA). The learning objectives of this module are to:  Empower farmers (both men and women) with knowledge and skills to improve the productivity of their main crops.  Sharpen the farmers’ ability to make critical and informed decisions that render their farming profitable and climate-smart for both male and female farmers.  To sensitize farmers in new ways of thinking and solve problems linked to climate changes. Help farmers learn how to organize themselves and their communities, with a focus on women and girls..."
Source/publisher: Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)
2019-01-01
Date of entry/update: 2019-06-16
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language: English
Format : pdf
Size: 1.27 MB
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Description: "Fisheries co-management projects, bringing together fisher communities, government, nongovernmental organizations (NGO) and research organizations, represent the best opportunity for developing and sustaining inland and delta fisheries in Myanmar. Each partner brings different competencies, field-tested experiences and an extensive network of communities, service providers and trading networks into the process. Vulnerability can be defined as the extent to which an activity or a group of persons is exposed to a hazard, and also the extent to which they are able to respond or adapt. It also includes socio-economic characteristics (e.g. poverty and employment rates, age of the population, power dynamics). The Participatory rural appraisal – Vulnerability study of Ayeyarwady Delta fishing communities in Myanmar and social protection opportunities (PRA-V study) seeks to inform fisheries management and social protection processes of the key vulnerability issues faced by fishers at the five pilot sites selected for fisheries co-management. The five co-management sites are located in: Labutta, Pyapon, Maubin, Hinthada and Thabaung townships (Figure 2). All sites have a t least one villa ge t ha t is implementing a rudimentary form of fisheries co-management. Two of the sites (Labutta and Pyapon) are in coastal saline areas, two are in freshwater areas (Hinthada and Thabaung) while the fifth site (Maubin) is in an area inland that alternates between freshwater and brackish conditions..."
Creator/author: Aung Kyaw Thein, Richard Gregory, Michael Akester, Florence Poulain, Romain Langeard
Source/publisher: Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)
2019-01-01
Date of entry/update: 2019-06-16
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language: English
Format : pdf
Size: 2.8 MB
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Description: "The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) is implementing a project entitled “Sustainable Cropland and forest management in priority agro-ecosystems of Myanmar (SLM-GEF)” in coordination with the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Conservation (MoNREC) and the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation (MoALI) with funding from the Global Environment Facility (GEF). The project aims to facilitate and strengthen sustainable land management (SLM), sustainable forest management (SFM), and climate-smart agriculture (CSA). The project facilitates the adoption of climate smart agriculture (CSA) policies and practices that will help to sustainably increase productivity, enhance resilience (adaptation), reduce/remove GHGs (mitigation) and enhance achievement of national food security and development goals. The project intends to establish a national CSA/SLM training program mainstreaming CSA/SLM in the agriculture related training conducted by Department of Agriculture (DOA), State Agricultural Institutes (SAI), Department of Agriculture Research (DAR) and Yezin Agricultural University (YAU). The project will work with DoA, SAIs, DAR and YAU to integrate CSA within their research, training and development programs. The training program will vary with the need and nature of the institutions, for example;(1) one month training together with other subjects for the in-service or refresher course at Central Agriculture Research and Training Centre (CARTC), (2) one week intensive training of trainers (ToT) aiming for the senior extension agents of DoA, DAR and YAU, (3) CSA component integrated into the course for diploma students at SAIs, and (4) CSA component integrated into the course for bachelor and master's level at YAU. AVSI Foundation was contracted to develop the Climate Smart Agriculture Curriculum and Handbook to be introduced and incorporated as a course (subject) into the existing education systems at different levels as mentioned above. This document will serve as the main resource/reference book for professors/lecturers/teachers from the different State Agricultural Institutes to include the related topics on CSA into their courses for teaching the students..."
Source/publisher: Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)
2019-01-01
Date of entry/update: 2019-06-15
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language: English
Format : pdf
Size: 341.06 KB
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Description: "The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) is implementing a project entitled “Sustainable Cropland and forest management in priority agro-ecosystems of Myanmar (SLM-GEF)” in coordination with the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Conservation (MoNREC) and the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation (MoALI) with funding from the Global Environment Facility (GEF). The project aims to facilitate and strengthen sustainable land management (SLM), sustainable forest management (SFM), and climate-smart agriculture (CSA). The project facilitates the adoption of climate smart agriculture (CSA) policies and practices that will help to sustainably increase productivity, enhance resilience (adaptation), reduce/remove GHGs (mitigation) and enhance achievement of national food security and development goals. The project intends to establish a national CSA/SLM training program mainstreaming CSA/SLM in the agriculture related training conducted by Department of Agriculture (DoA), State Agricultural Institutes (SAI), Department of Agriculture Research (DAR) and Yezin Agricultural University (YAU). The project will work with DoA, SAIs, DAR and YAU to integrate CSA within their research, training and development programs. The training program will vary with the need and nature of the institutions, for example;(1) one month training together with other subjects for the in-service or refresher course at Central Agriculture Research and Training Centre (CARTC), (2) one week intensive training of trainers (ToT) aiming for the senior extension agents of DoA, DAR and YAU, (3) CSA component integrated into the course for diploma students at SAIs, and (4) CSA component integrated into the course for bachelor and master's level at YAU. AVSI Foundation has been contracted to develop the Climate Smart Agriculture Curriculum and Handbook to be introduced and incorporated as a course (subject) into the existing education systems at different levels as mentioned above. This document will serve as the main resource/reference book for the trainers to include the related topics on CSA into their courses for teaching..."
Source/publisher: Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)
2019-01-01
Date of entry/update: 2019-06-15
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language: English
Format : pdf
Size: 377.97 KB
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Description: "The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) is implementing a project entitled “Sustainable Cropland and forest management in priority agro-ecosystems of Myanmar (SLM-GEF)” in coordination with the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Conservation (MoNREC) and the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation (MoALI) with funding from the Global Environment Facility (GEF). AVSI Foundation has been contracted to develop the National Farmer Field School (FFS) curriculum and FFS Handbook. AVSI Foundation has developed a FFS curriculum/module on climate smart agriculture (CSA) techniques/practices for each selected agricultural crop and for each of the three agro-ecological zones incorporating solutions to the major problems identified during the need assessments and also considering the findings of value chain analysis..."
Source/publisher: Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)
2019-01-01
Date of entry/update: 2019-06-15
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language: English
Format : pdf
Size: 319.01 KB
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Description: "Why do food insecurity and malnutrition still exist in a country that produces enough food for its entire population? This is the question at the heart of the Strategic Review of Food and Nutrition Security in Myanmar. The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) have provided countries around the world with a broad global framework for development through the year 2030. National governments are aligning their development strategies around the 17 SDGs. For SDG 2 – Zero Hunger – Strategic Reviews have been carried out in dozens of countries across the world with the aim of providing a strong evidence base to enhance and accelerate national efforts to eliminate food insecurity and malnutrition. The Myanmar Strategic Review is part of this global effort towards Zero Hunger. Myanmar has shown its commitment to Zero Hunger as one of the first countries in the Asia Pacific region to adopt the Zero Hunger Challenge initiated by former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. Over the past few years, UN agencies and others have undertaken various initiatives around SDG 2 in Myanmar. The Strategic Review does not aim to duplicate these existing efforts, but is rather a compilation and analytical synthesis of existing evidence, with concrete recommendations on the way forward. While the Strategic Review report itself provides a wealth of information and analysis, translating this into action is even more important. The report concludes with a set of recommendations for the Government as well as all stakeholders in the food and nutrition arena in Myanmar. This “whole of society approach” includes development partners such as UN agencies and NGOs, as well as other actors including the private sector, legislators, and state/regional governments. I call on all of you to be champions of SDG 2 by communicating the Strategic Review and its findings widely. We hope that the report does not sit on shelves collecting dust, but that the findings and recommendations are taken forward. The publication of this report is not the end of the process, but rather the beginning..."
Creator/author: Professor Dr. Aung Tun Thet
Source/publisher: World Food Programme (WFP)
2018-06-01
Date of entry/update: 2019-06-09
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language: English
Format : pdf
Size: 6.01 MB
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Description: "This note seeks to contribute to the ongoing debates around the revision of Myanmar?s 2012 Farmland Law. It summarizes key findings of research conducted in the main fish farming areas of Myanmar on the relationship between aquaculture (fish farming) and land use. It makes recommendations for the revision of land use regulations that would allow aquaculture to develop in a manner that benefits small producers and yields more equitable outcomes. Aquaculture is a high value activity in comparison with paddy, Myanmar?s most important crop in area terms. Average returns per acre from farming fish are several times higher than those from farming monsoon or dry season paddy ($655/acre versus $98/acre and $126/acre, respectively..."
Creator/author:
Source/publisher: Michigan State University (MSU) & Feed the Future Innovation Lab for Food Security Policy
2017-04-00
Date of entry/update: 2018-03-13
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language:
Format : pdf
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Description: "Across Southeast Asia, agricultural growth has historically been a major driver of overall economic growth and poverty reduction (Christiaensen, Demery, and Kuhl 2011). Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam all enjoyed rapid agricultural growth as part of their successful development over the past several decades. Given broad similarities in the economic structures of these countries in the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s in comparison with Myanmar today, the historical evidence suggests that rapid agricultural growth in Myanmar has the potential to be the engine for broad-based economic growth and poverty reduction. Moreover, the current democratic reforms in Myanmar create opportunities for development of agricultural and economic policies for greater food security and poverty reduction.Official statistics indicate that agriculture is the largest economic sector in the country,accounting for nearly 43 percent of GDP and providing the main source of livelihood for nearly 70 percent of the population (Haggblade et al 2013). Agricultural productivity in Myanmar is low compared with most of Southeast Asia, which partially explains the disparity in relative incomes across the countries. Raising Myanmar?s productivity to the level of its agro-ecologically similar neighbors, and thereby spurring rapid agricultural growth, could significantly raise rural incomes and reduce overall poverty..."
Creator/author:
Source/publisher: Michigan State University (MSU) & The International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI)
2015-11-00
Date of entry/update: 2018-03-13
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language:
Format : pdf
Size: 1.08 MB
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Description: FOOD SECURITY: "In line with the previous remote emergency assessments, the survey confirmed a worsening of the food security situation in already highly vulnerable areas after the October 2016 incidents and subsequent security operations. Nearly one third of the population was severely food-insecure and in need of humanitarian assistance. Only 14 percent of women achieved minimum dietary diversity and none of the children met the minimum adequate diet. Income opportunities were scarce and households could not access sufficient food to cover their needs. About half of the markets were not functioning or were only partially operational, food prices were highly volatile and supply of affordable foods in many markets was scarce...OVERALL SITUATION: Maungdaw district is among the most vulnerable and chronically food-insecure areas in Myanmar and the assessment confirmed a further deterioration of the food security situation. Measured by the food consumption score, about two third of the households could not meet an adequate diet and 28 percent of them had a poor food intake the week prior to the survey. With respect to previous surveys (2014-16), an increase was registered in diet inadequacy rates, from 43 to 62 percent, and in the share of households with poor food consumption, from 9 to 29 percent . During thirty days prior to the survey, about one third of the households faced extreme experiences of food insecurity, such as no food of any kind in the household (28 percent), went to bed hungry (34 percent), or went for the whole day and night without eating (28 percent). Income opportunities were scarce, households could not access sufficient food to cover their needs, and were employing disruptive coping strategies to manage the food gaps. Compared to the period of January-April 2016, food prices have increased on average by 7.4 percent while the purchasing power of households has dropped by 44 percent. Nearly half of the markets were not or only partially functioning. Food prices were highly volatile, and supply of affordable dried fish, a main source of proteins for the population, was scarce. High food insecurity, limited access to essential services including health care, and poor ac-cess to safe water and sanitation may have exacerbated an already serious malnutrition situ-ation (based on DHS 2015-16 for Rakhine State, the Global Acute Malnutrition (GAM) was at 13.9 percent while the Severe Acute malnutrition (SAM) - 3.7 percent). None of the children from 6 to 23 months met the minimum adequate diet, only 2.5 percent reached minimum dietary diversity and 8.5 percent met the minimum meal frequency. It was observed that 24 percent of the households in Maungdaw and 17 percent in Buthidaung were composed of female adult members only. This was in line with focus group discussions findings indicating that many male adults had to leave their household due to the security operations. With the highest frequency of episodes of severe hunger, this group was the most vulnerable to food insecurity (Figure 2). Under these circumstances and with the upcoming rainy season that may aggravate an already fragile situation, the capacity of the most vulnerable population to access sufficient food in the long-term is severally undermined and will depend on the humanitarian assistance in the near future. It is estimated that about 38,000 households corresponding to 225,800 people are in need of humanitarian assistance. Preliminary data of early 2017 shows an increase in children requiring treatment of acute malnutrition, and it is estimated that 80,500 children under the age of five are expected to be in need of treatment for acute malnutrition over the next twelve months.
Source/publisher: World Food Programme (WFP)
2017-07-00
Date of entry/update: 2017-12-05
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language: English
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Description: "WFP is closely coordinating with the Government and partners in assessing food needs of populations affected by recent floods across Myanmar and stands ready to provide an immediate response, if needed * In July, WFP continued assisting 233,460 IDPs with cash or in-kind food assistance in Kachin, Rakhine and northern Shan States."
Source/publisher: World Food Programme (WFP)
2016-07-00
Date of entry/update: 2016-09-11
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language: English
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Description: Highlights: • Cyclone Komen made landfall in Myanmar at the end of July 2015 causing extensive flooding to agricultural land, which remained submerged in some areas until September. This caused severe localized losses to the 2015 monsoon season crops, especially p addy, in Chin, Rakhine, Ayeyarwaddy, Yangon, Sagaing and parts of Bago. However, once the water receded, a large portion of the flooded areas with paddy was replanted. Overall, the amount of irreversible damage was limited. • At 27.5 million tonnes, the aggregate national production of paddy, the country?s staple food, in 2015 (monsoon season 2015 and ongoing 2015 secondary season) would be 3 percent below the 2014 crop and 2 percent down from the average of the past three - years. • At subnational level, however, cereal production and livelihood of farming households and communities in remote areas, in particular Chin and Rakhine, which concentrate highly vulnerable populations with little resilience and low agricultural productivity, did not recover fully as in other areas affected by the flooding. These populations may face severe food shortages in the coming months and require relief assistance. • Livestock and fisheries were affected by the flooding in localized areas with losses of cattle, buffalo, sheep, goats, pigs and poultry, and damage to fish and shrimp farms, resulting in reduced animal protein intake in the most affected areas. • The country is a net exporter of rice and the 2015 paddy production, similar to previous years, will exceed domestic requirements, but tighter domestic supplies in marketing year 2015/16 (October/September) are expected to further underpin already high rice prices, raising concerns about food access by most vulnerable sections of the population. • Prices of rice reached record levels in August and September 2015, reflecting strong depreciation of the Kyat, increasing rice exports and concerns about the damage to paddy crop. Domestic rice prices declined with the harvest between October and December 2015 but remained at high levels. In February 2016, rice prices averaged 37 percent higher than a year earlier. • For the majority of farming households, the main impact of the July flooding was related to the increased costs for replanting and the delayed harvest. Households depending primarily upon day labour, and especially non-skilled day labour, re main among the most vulnerable. They faced a gap in wages during August and have difficulties in obtaining credit. • The July flooding was perceived to have moderate impact on children?s nutritional status and little impact on infant and young children feeding practices. • In view of the country?s adequate rice availabilities and generally well-functioning domestic markets, the Mission recommends that any eventual food assistance needs to be provided in the form of cash and/ or vouchers. • To cover immediate agricultural needs following the 2015 flooding, the Mission recommends the distribution of seeds for the next monsoon planting season; as well as water and pest-resistant storage containers to protect farmer?s seeds, along with drying nets and post-harvest equipment in the most affected areas. In Rakhine, Sagaing and Ayeyarwaddy, recording the highest livestock losses, urgent restocking of livestock is required to avoid a further fall in animal protein intake; while the rebuilding of fishing gear and boats and the rehabilitation of fish ponds is also needed in the most affected Rakhine State."
Creator/author: Swithun Goodbody, Guljahan Kurbanova, Cristina Coslet, Aaron Wise, Nuria Branders, Sophie Goudet
Source/publisher: FAO, WFP
2016-03-16
Date of entry/update: 2016-03-18
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language: English
Format : pdf
Size: 1.22 MB
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Description: "The world has witnessed significant, exciting and sudden political changes in Myanmar over the past couple years. The country is at a critical phase in its social and economic transformation, and there is enormous opportunity for development economic growth. CGSD is building a Sustainable Development Program to provide policy support for the government, local NGOs and the donor community, accelerating growth that is both socially inclusive, sustainable and mindful of climate risks and opportunities..."
Source/publisher: Earth Institute | Columbia University
2013-05-09
Date of entry/update: 2013-10-20
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language: English
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Description: Continuing concerns from previous Updates: Paddy harvest Ayeyarwady, Kayin and Bago: Local and regional rice prices are still being monitored after significant flooding severely affected 126,000 acres of paddy land and completely destroyed 55,000 acres. While the success of the harvest could be mitigated to an extent by post-flood seed distributions (for replanting), the harvest this year will likely be lower than normal in these areas, potentially impacting prices and rice exports..... Sesame, pigeon pea and groundnut harvest - Dry Zone: Harvests are being monitored after drought-like conditions damaged crops in August, leading to as much as a 25% reduction in yield. While replanting was possible, the success of this replanting may have been impacted by another dry spell in September (as pointed out above). Prices of groundnut oil and sesame oil are also being monitored as prices in August were reportedly 70% higher than normal.
Source/publisher: World Food Programme (WFP)
2012-09-00
Date of entry/update: 2012-10-12
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language: English
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Description: Executive Summary: "This report reveals that the health of populations in conflict-affected areas of eastern Burma, particularly women and children, is amongst the worst in the world, a result of official disinvestment in health, protracted conflict and the abuse of civilians..."Diagnosis: Critical" demonstrates that a vast area of eastern Burma remains in a chronic health emergency, a continuing legacy of longstanding official disinvestment in health, coupled with protracted civil war and the abuse of civilians. This has left ethnic rural populations in the east with 41.2% of children under five acutely malnourished. 60.0% of deaths in children under the age of 5 are from preventable and treatable diseases, including acute respiratory infection, malaria, and diarrhea. These losses of life would be even greater if it were not for local community-based health organizations, which provide the only available preventive and curative care in these conflict-affected areas. The report summarizes the results of a large scale population-based health and human rights survey which covered 21 townships and 5,754 households in conflict-affected zones of eastern Burma. The survey was jointly conducted by the Burma Medical Association, National Health and Education Committee, Back Pack Health Worker Team and ethnic health organizations serving the Karen, Karenni, Mon, Shan, and Palaung communities. These areas have been burdened by decades of civil conflict and attendant human rights abuses against the indigenous populations. Eastern Burma demographics are characterized by high birth rates, high death rates and the significant absence of men under the age of 45, patterns more comparable to recent war zones such as Sierra Leone than to Burma?s national demographics. Health indicators for these communities, particularly for women and children, are worse than Burma?s official national figures, which are already amongst the worst in the world. Child mortality rates are nearly twice as high in eastern Burma and the maternal mortality ratio is triple the official national figure. While violence is endemic in these conflict zones, direct losses of life from violence account for only 2.3% of deaths. The indirect health impacts of the conflict are much graver, with preventable losses of life accounting for 59.1% of all deaths and malaria alone accounting for 24.7%. At the time of the survey, one in 14 women was infected with Pf malaria, amongst the highest rates of infection in the world. This reality casts serious doubts over official claims of progress towards reaching the country?s Millennium Development Goals related to the health of women, children, and infectious diseases, particularly malaria. The survey findings also reveal widespread human rights abuses against ethnic civilians. Among surveyed households, 30.6% had experienced human rights violations in the prior year, including forced labor, forced displacement, and the destruction and seizure of food. The frequency and pattern with which these abuses occur against indigenous peoples provide further evidence of the need for a Commission of Inquiry into Crimes against Humanity. The upcoming election will do little to alleviate the situation, as the military forces responsible for these abuses will continue to operate outside civilian control according to the new constitution. The findings also indicate that these abuses are linked to adverse population-level health outcomes, particularly for the most vulnerable members of the community—mothers and children. Survey results reveal that members of households who suffer from human rights violations have worse health outcomes, as summarized in the table above. Children in households that were internally displaced in the prior year were 3.3 times more likely to suffer from moderate or severe acute malnutrition. The odds of dying before age one was increased 2.5 times among infants from households in which at least one person was forced to provide labor. The ongoing widespread human rights abuses committed against ethnic civilians and the blockade of international humanitarian access to rural conflict-affected areas of eastern Burma by the ruling State Peace and Development Council (SPDC), mean that premature death and disability, particularly as a result of treatable and preventable diseases like malaria, diarrhea, and respiratory infections, will continue. This will not only further devastate the health of communities of eastern Burma but also poses a direct health security threat to Burma?s neighbors, especially Thailand, where the highest rates of malaria occur on the Burma border. Multi-drug resistant malaria, extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis and other infectious diseases are growing concerns. The spread of malaria resistant to artemisinin, the most important anti-malarial drug, would be a regional and global disaster. In the absence of state-supported health infrastructure, local community-based organizations are working to improve access to health services in their own communities. These programs currently have a target population of over 376,000 people in eastern Burma and in 2009 treated nearly 40,000 cases of malaria and have vastly increased access to key maternal and child health interventions. However, they continue to be constrained by a lack of resources and ongoing human rights abuses by the Burmese military regime against civilians. In order to fully address the urgent health needs of eastern Burma, the underlying abuses fueling the health crisis need to end."
Source/publisher: The Burma Medical Association, National Health and Education Committee, Back Pack Health Worker Team
2010-10-19
Date of entry/update: 2011-09-05
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language: Burmese, English, Thai
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Size: 5.32 MB
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Description: Executive Summary: "Myanmar has a population of 52 million divided among 135 ethnic groups; it is a food-surplus country with significant agricultural potential. But unfavourable economic policies, extreme weather, protection issues, poor social cohesion and marginalized population groups adversely affect livelihood opportunities, resulting in inadequate access to food. A recent nationwide household survey revealed that a third of the population live below the poverty line. National prevalence of underweight and stunting among children under 5 is 32 percent. The proposed operation provides food assistance for the most vulnerable and food-insecure populations. It is based on assessments, results monitoring, a WFP mid-term review of protracted relief and recovery operation 100663 and a formulation mission. This operation is designed to respond to shocks and enhance vulnerable households? resilience and coping capacity through food assistance. The objectives are to: > respond to the immediate food needs of people affected by shocks (Strategic Objective 1); > support and re-establish the livelihoods of the most vulnerable and food-insecure populations affected by shocks (Strategic Objective 3); > increase levels of education and maintain and/or improve the nutrition status of targeted women, girls and boys (Strategic Objective 4); and > increase food purchases from small farmers and improve their marketing opportunities while building government and partner capacity to address food insecurity (Strategic Objective 5). The operation is also in line with Millennium Development Goals 1, 2, 3, 4 and 6. WFP will implement activities directly or through its cooperating partners. It will continue its partnerships with United Nations agencies and non-governmental organizations to complement food assistance and maximize the benefit of its activities. Strategies adapted to different contexts will support the hand-over of WFP assistance. As food security improves in operational areas, WFP will scale its assistance down. Increasing national capacity remains a challenge for the sustainability of the hand-over of WFP-supported activities..."
Source/publisher: World Food Programme, Myanmar
2009-10-14
Date of entry/update: 2010-10-10
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language: English
Format : pdf
Size: 278.26 KB
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Description: Mission Highlights: • During the 2008 monsoon season, agricultural production suffered a significant decline in areas severely affected by Cyclone Nargis, as a result of poor quality seeds, salinity and iron toxicity, lack of agricultural labour and draught animals. Compared to the previous year, average paddy production is estimated to have decreased by 32 percent in 7 affected townships in the Ayeyarwady Division and by 35 percent in 3 affected townships of Yangon Division. At the divisional level, 2008 monsoon paddy output was down by 13 percent in Ayeyarwady, and 9 percent in Yangon. • Overall, aggretate food production in Myanmar is satisfactory, with positive outputs expected in most states/divisions, reflecting favourable weather and increasing use of F1 and HYV rice seeds. The Mission forecasts a 2008/09 (2008 monsoon and 2009 summer) cereal output of 21 million tonnes (rice at 19.8 million tonnes, maize at 1.11 million tonnes, and wheat at 0.147 million tonnes), 3.2 percent below the previous year, but approximately 10 percent above the five-year average. Cereal exports are expected to be high, with estimated rice exports of 477 000 tonnes and maize exports of 159 000 tonnes conversely, up to 64 000 tonnes of wheat are expected to be imported. • The cyclone-related damage to the livestock and fishing sectors in the Ayeyarwady Delta will continue to affect food supply and income generation in 2008/09. • Rats have damaged 685 hectares of rice and 400 hectares of maize in 121 villages of Chin State;localized food insecurity in these villages is expected. • Despite the increase in international rice prices, paddy prices in Myanmar remained low in 2008 due to domestic market and trade barriers. These low prices, combined with the rising cost of fertilizer and other major inputs, have significantly reduced farmers? incentives profits, and may have negatively impacted agricultural productivity and the country?s agricultural exports. • The Mission received reports of high levels of malnutrition in northern Rakhine State and recommends that a joint UNICEF and WFP food security and nutrition survey be conducted to verify these reports and to plan appropriate interventions, if needed. • In areas with high percentages of food insecure and vulnerable populations, defined as people living below the food poverty line, baseline surveys are required to measure food security, vulnerability, and nutrition, and plan appropriate interventions. Chin and Rakhine States are of the highest priority for baseline surveys. • There are more than 5 million people below the food poverty line in Myanmar. States/divisions which the Mission found to be a priority for emergency food assistance are: cyclone-affected areas of Ayeyarwady Division (85 000 tonnes); Chin State (23 000 tonnes), particularly those areas affected by the rat infestation; Rakhine State (15 000 tonnes), particularly the north of the State; Kachin State (8 300 tonnes); north Shan State (20 200 tonnes); east Shan State (7 000 tonnes); and Magwe Division (27 500 tonnes). Most of the food commodities can be procured locally, with only a limited requirement for imported food aid. • The Mission recommends the following agricultural assistance in cyclone-affected Ayeyarwady and Yangon Divisions: distribution of seeds for the coming summer and next monsoon planting seasons; distribution of draught animals adapted to local climatic conditions; distribution of other livestock for increased meat availability; distribution of hand tractors with training on their usage and maintenance; distribution of fishing equipment; re-establishment of ice production plants; and training in boat-building, net-making and on drafting of fishery laws. • The Mission recommends the following actions in regard to national food policies: set up a market information and food security warning system; develop balanced food production and trade policies for both producers and consumers; remove domestic market/trade barriers; and improve market integration.
Creator/author: Cheng Fang, Maung Mar, Aye Mon, Thanda Kyi, Bernard Cartella, Jan Delbaere, Michael Sheinkman, Nang Seng Aye, Aaron Charlop-Powers, Siddharth Krishnaswamy, Raul Varela
Source/publisher: FAO, WFP
2009-01-22
Date of entry/update: 2010-09-22
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language: English
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Description: Overview: "During two weeks in January 2009 a team from the Asia Programs unit of the Harvard Kennedy School?s Ash Institute, International Development Enterprises (IDE), and the Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation of the Union of Myanmar conducted a humanitarian assessment of food production and the agricultural economy in Myanmar. We focused on paddy production, because rice is the country?s staple crop. Based on fieldwork in cyclone-affected areas of the Ayeyarwady River Delta and in Upper Myanmar, we conclude that paddy output is likely to drop in 2009, potentially creating a food shortage by the third quarter. Our estimates are based on imperfect data, and this scenario may not materialize, but the avoidance of a food shortage this year would represent a temporary reprieve, not a recovery. Myanmar?s rural sector is stretched to the breaking point and the natural resilience that has sustained it is leaching away. This paper recommends a set of interventions to avert this looming crisis: 1) an increase in credit for farmers and other participants in the rice economy including traders and millers, 2) steps to increase the farm gate price of paddy in order to create an incentive for farmers to produce more paddy, and 3) a program to finance small-scale village infrastructure projects to increase demand for wage labor for the rural poor who are most at risk. This paper proceeds as follows. Section I describes the study?s rationale and methodology. Section II presents the research team?s key findings. Section III offers an analytical framework for considering how and why food markets fail. The next two sections consider the implications of our finding, examining income loss, crop production, and land concerns. Section VI recommends a three-pronged policy response. Section VII concludes by considering the distinction between humanitarian responses and development strategy. Appendix I discusses Myanmar?s likely actual GDP growth rate. Appendix II summarizes the policy options available to the government in the face of continued deterioration of conditions in rural areas."
Creator/author: David Dapice, Tom Vallely, Ben Wilkinson
Source/publisher: International Development Enterprises
2009-01-00
Date of entry/update: 2010-09-01
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language: English
Format : pdf
Size: 177.13 KB
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Description: "In the Kokang and Wa regions in northern Burma opium bans have ended over a century of poppy cultivation. The bans have had dramatic consequences for local communities. They depended on opium as a cash crop, to buy food, clothing, and medicines. The bans have driven poppy-growing communities into chronic poverty and have adversely affected their food security. Very few alternatives are being offered to households for their survival... Conclusions & Recommendations: • The opium bans have driven communities into chronic poverty and have adversely affected their food security and access to health care and education. • The Kokang and Wa authorities have promoted Chinese investment in mono-plantations, especially in rubber. These projects are unsustainable and do not significantly profit the population. • Ex-poppy farmers mainly rely on casual labour and collecting Non-Timber Forest Products as alternative source of income. • Current interventions by international NGOs and UN agencies are still limited in scale and can best be described as ?emer-gency responses”. • If the many challenges to achieving viable legal livelihoods in the Kokang and Wa regions are not addressed, the reductions in opium cultivation are unlikely to be sustainable. The Kokang and Wa cease-fire groups have implemented these bans following international pressure, especially from neighbouring China. In return, they hope to gain international political recognition and aid to develop their impoverished and war-torn regions. The Kokang and Wa authorities have been unable to provide alternative sources of income for ex-poppy farmers. Instead they have promoted Chinese invest-ment in monoplantations, especially in rubber. These projects have created many undesired effects and do not significantly profit the population. The Burmese military government, the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC), has also been unwilling and unable to provide assistance. The international community has provided emergency aid through inter-national NGOs and UN agencies. However, current levels of support are insufficient, and need to be upgraded in order to provide sustainable alternatives for the population. The international community should not abandon former opium-growing communities in the Kokang and Wa regions at this critical time..."
Creator/author: Tom Kramer
Source/publisher: Transnational Insititute (Drug Policy Briefing Nr 29)
2009-07-00
Date of entry/update: 2010-08-11
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language: English
Format : pdf
Size: 217.33 KB
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Description: "Once considered to be the rice bowl of Asia, in 2008 Burma continued to languish and suffer under the corrupt military rule of the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC), Burma?s authoritarian military regime. Burmese citizens faced countless human rights violations aimed at destabilising and destroying livelihoods and building up the military, the junta?s wealth and the wealth of state affiliated businessmen. As a result, the country remained among the worst in the world in terms of inflation, poverty, health and education. While approximately 40 percent of Burma?s annual spending goes toward funding the military, only three percent is spent healthcare.1 (For more information, see Chapter 11: Right to Health). The ruling junta has demonstrated a complete lack of will to implement basic, sound economic principles, and maintains a system that continues to deny many social and human rights to its people. The consequences of such negligence have been dire, bringing the once prosperous nation another year closer to economic and social collapse. In a report released in December of 2008, Burma ranked 135th out of 179 countries on the Human Development Index, down three places from the year before. Moreover, the United Nations estimated that more than a third of Burmese children are malnourished and more than 30 percent of the population lives below the poverty line..."
Source/publisher: Human Rights Docmentation Unit (HRDU)
2009-11-23
Date of entry/update: 2009-12-05
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language: English
Format : pdf
Size: 885.76 KB
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Description: "Myanmar has a policy of promoting food and nutrition security and, at the national level, food production is more than that required to meet the country?s needs. Nevertheless, food and nutrition surveillance has revealed that malnutrition still exists in the country, despite economic growth and national food self-sufficiency. The National Plan of Action for Food and Nutrition, formulated in 1994 and adopted in 1995, accorded priority to household food and nutrition security. Accordingly, in 1996, in partnership with the World Health Organization (WHO), the National Nutrition Centre embarked on a study of household food and nutrition security in Myanmar. A preliminary situation analysis revealed that transitional changes in the economic, demographic and social sectors have driven dramatic changes in people?s lifestyles, behaviour and practices and that these changes affect food and nutrition security. The present paper explores household and intrahousehold determinants of nutrition problems in Myanmar.".....Results Preliminary descriptive analysis demonstrated more acute malnutrition in the urban area than in the rural area for both the pre- and post-harvest periods. Furthermore, nutritional problems were more acute in both the urban and rural areas during the preharvest period than during the post-harvest period. Urban children consumed fewer calories than rural children during both the pre- and post-harvest times, while children in both rural and urban areas consumed fewer calories during the preharvest period than during the postharvest period, although all the differences were not statistically significant......Keywords: care of the vulnerable, food security, malnutrition, Myanmar, National Plan of Action for Food and Nutrition.
Creator/author: Aye Thwin MPH (NUTRITION), DFs&N, MB, BS
Source/publisher: Asia Pacific J Clin Nutr (2001) 10(Suppl.): S34?S39
2001-00-00
Date of entry/update: 2009-10-25
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language: English
Format : pdf
Size: 34.63 KB
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Description: Executive Summary" "Since late 2007, the people of Chin State have been struggling with massive food shortages and hunger after the vast bamboo forests that cover the mountainous landscape of Chin State began to flower and die- a process that occurs twice every century. Already struggling for their survival due to decades of severe economic repression and human rights abuses, this natural disaster has left the Chin people on the edge of survival. This report is a follow-up to CHRO?s July 2008 report, ?Critical Point: Food Scarcity and Hunger in Burma?s Chin State,? which first brought worldwide attention to the dire humanitarian conditions facing the Chin people. This report provides an update on the current conditions in Chin State, the effects of the food crisis, and responses taken to assist people in the affected areas of Chin State. The bamboo of Chin State began to flower in late 2006. Attracted to the fruit produced by the bamboo, the flowering process triggered an explosion in the rat population. After exhausting the fruit supply, the rats turned on people?s crops and food supplies, causing massive food shortages for local villagers dependent on farming for their livelihood and subsistence. In 2008, CHRO estimated that as many as 200 villages were affected by severe food shortages associated with the bamboo flowering, and no less than 100,000 people, or 20 percent of the entire population of Chin State, were in need of immediate food aid. CHRO now believes those figures are much higher. Since CHRO first reported on the crisis, food shortages spread to seven townships in Chin State as well as parts of Sagaing Division. Up to 82 percent of the farmland has been destroyed in certain affected regions of Chin State. In several villages, each and every household is in need of immediate food aid. The consequences of the food crisis are also more apparent now. Over 54 people are known to have died due to the effects of extreme malnourishment and famine-related disease; children comprise the majority of recorded deaths. As access to affected regions is limited, this number is likely to be an underestimate. Disease and malnourishment is widespread, particularly among women, children, and the elderly. Children with little ability to concentrate on studies due to hunger have been forced to drop out of school in order to help their families forage for food: school enrollment rates are down 50 to 60 percent from last year. Several thousand Chin have fled their villages to search for food elsewhere. More than 4,000 have already arrived to the India and Thailand border. Villagers are now struggling with hunger and severe malnutrition due to food shortages in Chin State. Children are particularly at risk of malnourishment. (? CHRO, 2007) Up to 82 percent of the farmland has been destroyed in certain affected regions of Chin State. (? CHRO, 2009) The situation has been made more acute by the ruling military regime?s utter neglect of the suffering, compounded by policies and practices of abuse and repression against Chin civilians. As thousands struggle with hunger, starvation, and disease, the SPDC continues practices of forced labor, extorting excessive amounts of money from villagers, confiscating people?s land and property, in addition to other severe human rights abuses. Such actions have strained the Chin people?s ability to cope with the impacts of the natural disaster. Since the food shortages were first reported by CHRO, efforts have been made to respond to the food crisis. After initially dismissing the situation in Chin State, the WFP conducted a follow-up investigation and eventually acknowledged the existence of food shortages in Chin State. During a recent mission to the area, WFP reported ?food consumption *to be+…worse than any other region visited by the Mission.? WFP and their coordinating partners initiated relief programs in early 2009 that continue to be implemented in various affected areas of Chin State. Chin community-based groups in India have also organized relief teams to deliver food aid to remote villages in Chin State. These teams are responsible for delivering over 30,000 kilograms of rice to 54 villages in six townships from May to July 2009 alone. Despite concerted efforts from multiply fronts to assist the affected population, Burma?s military government, the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC), continues to do nothing to respond to the food crisis in Chin State. Rather, the SPDC has exacerbated the crisis through sustained human rights abuses and economic repression, further undermining the livelihoods and food security of the Chin people. Forced labor, extortion, and confiscations of land and property continue unabated within the affected areas. SPDC has denied repeated requests for food aid, even as it reports a rice surplus. Local authorities have banned villagers from receiving foreign aid, threatening reprisals against anyone who accepts foreign aid. Government neglect and continued abuse; inadequately supported relief efforts; and pervasive hunger and food shortages have the potential for catastrophic humanitarian consequences. The effects of the bamboo flowering and rat infestation are expected to last three to five years. During the last bamboo cycle, half a century ago, 10,000 to 15,000 people reportedly died due to the associated effects of hunger and disease in neighboring Mizoram State. The people of Chin State today struggling with the same natural disaster have the added burden of military repression, abuse, and neglect. They are on the edge of survival now; but their struggle is far from over."
Source/publisher: Chin Human Rights Organization (CHRO)
2009-09-24
Date of entry/update: 2009-09-18
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language: English
Format : pdf
Size: 2.38 MB
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Source/publisher: MIMU
2009-08-05
Date of entry/update: 2009-08-11
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language: English
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Description: "Myanmar has a total land area of 676,577 sq km with a population of 57.50 million. Total net sown area is 11.67 ml ha with the cropping intensity of 157.1%. Forest cover, 33.44 ml ha accounted for nearly half of Myanmar?s land area. Presently, only 60% of the 17.19 ml ha classified for agricultural production is being exploited. Myanmar has a predominantly agricultural economy and agriculture sector contributed 45% of GDP, 11% of export earning and employed 63% of its labour force..."
Source/publisher: UNESCAP
2008-12-10
Date of entry/update: 2009-08-10
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language: English
Format : pdf
Size: 34.63 KB
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Description: This Report summarizes the findings of the Food Security Profiling assessment carried out across the Wa area in September 2008.
Source/publisher: World Food Programme (WFP)
2008-11-00
Date of entry/update: 2009-08-10
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language: English
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Description: "...This study will examine the food (rice) availability at the national level using the official and FAO data. Second, a case study in the rice deficit region (Dry Zone) will present the characteristics and food security status of the farm and non-farm rural households (landless) and the determinants of food security. The Dry Zone was chosen to study because the EC & FAO (2007) classified this region as the most vulnerable area of the country. Furthermore, the FAO projected that the Net Primary Production would be decreased significantly in the Dry Zone in the next two decades. It is essential to collect the primary and secondary data on food availability, access, stability and utilization for understanding the current reality of food security at both macro and micro level... Objectives of the Study: > To assess the food (rice) availability at the national level by using indicators of trend of production index, growth rate of sown area, production and yield, average availability of rice, average per capita rice consumption, rice surplus, dietary energy supply of rice, share of food expenditure in total budget, self-sufficiency ratio, trends in domestic prices of rice and the estimated effects of the Nargis cyclone on rice self-sufficiency. > To investigate the rural household?s access to food in terms of human capital, food production, household income, asset ownership, and income diversification of farm and non-farm (landless) households. > To examine the farm and non-farm household?s food security status by applying the national food poverty line and the index of coping strategies method along with some indicators such as food share in the household budget, percentage of food expenditure in the total household income, and nutrition security indicators of access to safe drinking water, sanitation, diseases, and number of children death.
Creator/author: Dolly Kyaw
Source/publisher: Institute of Developing Economies, Japan External Trade Organization (V.R.F. Series No. 444)
2009-02-00
Date of entry/update: 2009-08-10
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language: English
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Description: EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: "The military regime of Burma has been consistent in their inability and unwillingness to protect and provide for the people of Burma. Burma?s human rights record provides testimony of decades of widespread violations and abuses perpetrated largely at the hands of Burma?s military rulers and their agents against the Burmese people. Dissent is regularly silenced and opponents brutalized. In a country once known as the ?rice-bowl of Asia,” Burma is now one of the poorest countries of Asia due to steady economic deterioration driven by the regime?s mismanagement. Many in Burma live without access to proper schools, healthcare facilities, reliable electricity, safe drinking water, and stable food supplies. Cowed by policies of extreme oppression and tactics of intimidation, life for much of the population in Burma is a struggle for daily survival. Add to that a natural disaster- and survival in Burma reaches a critical point. Western Burma?s Chin State is at such a point. Since 2006, the region has been plagued by a severe food crisis following a steep reduction in the local harvest and food production. The year 2006 marked the beginning of a new cycle of bamboo flowering, which occurs about every 50 years in the region, triggering an explosion in the population of rats and resulting in the destruction of crops. This has caused a severe shortage of food for local communities primarily dependent on subsistence farming through shifting cultivation. The phenomenon has been documented three times since 1862, and each past event ended in a disastrous famine for the communities in the area. Compounding the impending food crisis in Chin State due to the bamboo flowering is the continuation of severe human rights violations and repressive economic policies of the military regime, which serve to further undermine the livelihoods and food security of the Chin people. The use of unpaid civilian forced labour is widespread throughout Chin State, which consumes the time and energy of local farmers and reduces their crop yields. The regime also forcibly orders farmers to substitute their staple crops for other cash crops, and has confiscated thousands of acres of farmland from local farmers for tea and jatropha plantations. Meanwhile, arbitrary taxes and mandatory ?donations” collected from Chin households by the Burmese authorities total up to as much 200,000 Kyats a year in major towns.2 This includes the unofficial collection of money from the Chin public by officials in various government departments at the local level to support such programs as tea and bio-fuel plantations; and extortion and confiscation of money, properties, and livestock by military units stationed at 33 locations across the state. The rising cost of living and skyrocketing food prices is also adding to the already dire humanitarian situation in Chin State. In the last four years, the price of rice has quintupled from 6,000 Kyats a bag in 2004 to as much as 30,000 Kyats today, an amount equivalent to the monthly salary of entry level public servants. The humanitarian consequences stemming from the dying bamboo and exacerbated by conditions imposed by the regime are enormous, and there are clear indications that unless urgent action is taken to address the crisis, the situation could soon turn into a large-scale catastrophe affecting all parts of Chin State. The hardest hit areas are in the southern townships of Matupi and Paletwa where bamboo grows heavily, but reports suggest that severe food shortages are a state-wide phenomenon with many villages in the northern townships of Tonzang and Thantlang, for example, having already run out of food supplies. Based on the latest field surveys conducted in the affected areas, Chin Human Rights Organization (CHRO) estimates that as many as 200 villages may be directly affected by severe food shortages associated with the bamboo flowering, and no less than 100, 000 people or 20 percent of the entire population of Chin State may be in need of immediate food aid.3 Food scarcity is more severe in remote areas, where families are being reduced to one meal a day or have nothing left to eat at all. CHRO recently visited four border villages in India?s Mizoram State where it found 93 families from 22 villages in Paletwa Township, Chin State who fled across the border in search of food. To date, Burma?s State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) has done nothing positive to counter the food scarcity, nor has the SPDC provided any kind of help to communities affected by the food crisis. Repeated requests by affected communities for food aid were denied, even as 100,000 metric tonnes of rice was exported to Sri Lanka.4 Rather, Burma Army soldiers have seized food aid donated by private donors and church groups.5 In contrast to the situation in Burma, India?s Mizoram and Manipur States, both adjacent to Chin State, are facing a similar food crisis related to the bamboo flowering, and have received millions of dollars in aid from the central government as well as international aid agencies, including USAID of the United States government, to support emergency programs to combat and manage the food crisis.6 In early May, when Cyclone Nargis ripped through lower Burma and the Irrawaddy delta destroying entire regions of land and leaving thousands homeless, hungry, and helpless, the regime clearly demonstrated their complete indifference to the plight of the Burmese people. In response to this natural disaster, they did shamefully little to ease the suffering of the victims and much to hamper relief efforts. As a result, the people of Burma paid a heavy price in the loss of life and continue to struggle under a regime that fails to protect or provide for its people. As another natural disaster unfolds in western Burma without hope of internal protections or provisions, the Chin people, like the cyclone victims, will be sure to pay a heavy toll unless action is taken immediately. The critical point for action is now."
Source/publisher: Chin Human Rights Organization (CHRO)
2008-07-00
Date of entry/update: 2008-07-09
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language: English
Format : pdf
Size: 640.23 KB
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Description: Abstract: "This paper develops an agency model of contract choice in the hiring of labor and then uses the model to estimate the determinants of contract choice in rural Myanmar. As a salient feature relevant for the agricultural sector in a low income country such as Myanmar, the agency model incorporates considerations of food security and incentive effects. It is shown that when, possibly due to poverty, food considerations are important for employees, employers will prefer a labor contract with wages paid in kind (food) to one with wages paid in cash. At the same time, when output is responsive to workers? effort and labor monitoring is costly, employers will prefer a contract with piecerate wages to one with hourly wages. The case of sharecropping can be understood as a combination of the two: a labor contract with piecerate wages paid in kind. The predictions of the theoretical model are tested using a crosssection dataset collected in rural Myanmar through a sample household survey which was conducted in 2001 and covers diverse agroecological environments. The estimation results are consistent with the theoretical predictions: wages are more likely to be paid in kind when the share of staple food in workers? budget is higher and the farmland on which they produce food themselves is smaller; piecerate wages are more likely to be adopted when work effort is more difficult to monitor and the farming operation requires quick completion... JEL classification codes: J33, Q12, O12. Keywords: contract, incentive, selection, food security, Myanmar.
Creator/author: Takashi Kurosaki
Source/publisher: Hitotsubashi University Research Unit for Statistical Analysis in Social Sciences
2006-01-00
Date of entry/update: 2008-04-22
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language: English
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Description: General Health: Underlying causes of malnutrition -- Why health workers should feel concerned by nutritional issues? Misconceptions Concerning Nutrition: Voices of Community Health Educators and TBAs along the Thai-Burmese Border; Micronutrients: The Hidden Hunger; Iron Deficiency Anaemia; The Vicious Circle of Malnutrition and Infection; Treatment: IDENTIFYING MALNUTRITION; MANAGEMENT OF ACUTE SEVERE MALNUTRITION; GROWTH MONITORING: THE BEST PREVENTION; Fortified Flour for Refugees living in the camp; Making Blended Flour at Local Level; The example of MISOLA Flour in Africa. Health Education: Pregnancy and Nutrition; Breastfeeding; WHEN RICE SOUP IS NOT ENOUGH: First Foods - the Key to Optimal Growth and Development; BUILDING A BALANCED DIET FOR GOOD HEALTH; From the Field: How Sanetun became a malnourished child?
Source/publisher: Aide Medicale Internationale (AMI)
2004-12-00
Date of entry/update: 2007-07-01
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language: Burmese, English
Format : pdf
Size: 5.17 MB
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Description: This document presents the findings, conclusions and recommendations of the People's Tribunal on Food Scarcity and Militarization in Burma. The Tribunal?s work will appeal to all readers interested in human rights and social justice, as well as anyone with a particular interest in Burma. The Asian Human Rights Commission presents this report in order to stimulate discourse on human rights and democratization in Burma and around the world.
Source/publisher: People's Tribunal on Food Scarcity and Militarization in Burma
1999-10-00
Date of entry/update: 2003-06-03
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language: English
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Description: an edited version of a report by the People?s Tribunal on Food Scarcity and Militarization in Burma, which was published by the Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) in October 1999.
Creator/author: People
Source/publisher: "Burma Debate", Vol. VI, No. 3
1999-09-00
Date of entry/update: 2003-06-03
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language: English
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