Food Security and the economy in Burma

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Description: "The MAU tracks market prices in Central and Northern Rakhine State and Chin State. Data are collected from three vendors per product per market in the last week of each month. Data and product specifications are available online through the MPR dashboard at www.themimu.info/market-analysis-unit. KEY FINDINGS Rice prices increased by 6-12% in most markets in April, although pulses and palm oil prices were stable; Palm oil prices were just 17% above April 2022, after eight months of fairly calm oil markets; Vegetable prices rose for a second straight month following a seasonal pattern for this time of year; Prices for hygiene products were again stable, remaining 40-70% above April 2022 levels; Meat/fish prices increased significantly in April, registering their largest increases in five months; Kyauktaw, Rathedaung and Minbya saw steep hikes in April, while Paletwa and Pauktaw prices were stable; Further price increases are likely in May—particularly for essential foods but perhaps also NFIs—as cyclone preparation absorbs existing inventory. Product-Level Price Changes Essential Foods – Rice prices increased widely in April, although prices for pulses and palm oil were fairly stable. Rice prices increased by 6-12% in half of all markets monitored in April, although higher rice prices after the Thingyan holiday are not unusual. Prices for palm oil and pulses were stable in most cases, although they fluctuated by 10-20% in isolated cases. Vegetables – Vegetable prices increased for a second straight month in April. Eggplant and long bean prices rose widely, often up 40% or more. Townships were evenly split between stable and rising prices for most other vegetables monitored (often rising in the range of 10-20%); lower prices were rare. Only garlic saw falling prices, down 4-13% in a few cases. Hygiene Products – Prices for hygiene products were very stable in April, except in Kyauktaw where prices rose. Soap prices increased by 11-25% in multiple markets, but price shifts were otherwise fairly isolated for hygiene products. The only falling prices were toothpaste prices in two markets Meat and Fish – Meat/fish prices rose in April, marking their clearest increase since November 2022. Chicken and fish paste prices rose at least 7% in most markets monitored in April, while fresh fish and shrimp prices rose at least 13%. Dried fish prices were more stable, although they too rose 4-8% in some cases. Only Paletwa and Pautaw saw occasionally-lower prices. Other NFIs – NFI prices were stable or rising in April, with most price increase in the range of 5-14%. Prices for towels and longyis increased at least 5% in most markets, while plastic tarps, blankets and cooking pots rose 3-7% in a few markets. Isolated stockouts affected umbrellas and mosquito nets, but most other NFI prices were stable..."
Source/publisher: Myanmar Information Management Unit (Myanmar) via "Reliefweb" (New York)
2023-05-12
Date of entry/update: 2023-05-13
Grouping: Individual Documents
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Description: "The MAU tracks market prices in in Southeast Myanmar. Data are collected from three vendors per product per market in the last week of each month. The data include prices from Hpapun (Kamamaung market), Kawkareik (main), Loikaw (Thiri Mingalar) and Taungoo (Nat Htet). Data will soon be available online at www.themimu.info/market-analysis-unit. KEY FINDINGS Prices were stable or rising in March, although most prices changed by less than 10%; Rice and palm oil prices were fairly stable in March, while prices for pulses fell slightly; Vegetable prices were fairly stable in March—more so than at this time last year, when prices fell—increasing their lead over March 2022 levels; Prices for hygiene products rose by 7% in some markets, in contrast to generally-lower prices in February; NFI prices were stable in March, leaving most products at least 20% higher than last year; Prices were stable in Loikaw and Kawkareik in March, while Hpapun and Taungoo saw a mix of higher, lower and stable prices. Product-Level Price Changes Essential Foods – Essential food prices were fairly stable in March. Prices for some essential foods shifted up or down in March, but the change was usually less than 5%. Palm oil prices increased sharply in Taungoo in March, reversing February's lower prices. Vegetables – Vegetable prices fluctuated in March, with most prices varying more by township than by product. Vegetable prices were stable in Loikaw and Kawkareik in March, but prices increased in Taungoo and they were mixed in Hpapun. Taungoo saw the most dramatic vegetable price shifts, with eggplant and garlic prices up sharply. Hygiene Products – Prices for hygiene products rose in Hpapun and Taungoo in March while holding stable elsewhere. Prices for toothpaste, detergent and sanitary pads rose by 7% or more in Hpapun and Taungoo, but all three were stable in Kawkareik and Loikaw. Price hikes for hygiene products were largest in Taungoo. Meat and Fish – Meat and fish prices were stable or falling in March. Prices for shrimp and fish paste were stable in March, while chicken prices fell by 5-11% in three of four markets monitored. The picture was more mixed for fresh fish, dried fish and pork, with prices rising or falling by 6% or more for each of these products. Other NFIs – NFI prices were stable or falling slightly in March. NFI prices were virtually unchanged in Kawkareik in March, and elsewhere they shifted by less than 10%. None of the NFIs monitored saw price cuts across all markets, but items like cooking pots and longyis saw price cuts in two of four markets. Price increases for NFIs were very rare in March..."
Source/publisher: Myanmar Information Management Unit (Myanmar) via "Reliefweb" (New York)
2023-04-28
Date of entry/update: 2023-05-13
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Description: "Prior to 1 February 2021, 2.8 million people were considered food insecure in Myanmar. WFP estimates that 1.5 to 3.4 million additional people could be at risk of food insecurity and in need of assistance due to the economic slowdown provoked by the political crisis in the coming three to six months. This is largely because poor people have lost jobs and income, making it harder to afford food. • Vulnerable people in urban areas affected by the economic standstill are at greatest risk, while longer term impact on food systems will also add pressure on rural populations’ food security. • In addition to job and income loss, increasing food and fuel prices, disruptions in trade, slumping economic growth, and internal displacement of ethnic minority groups bode ill for Myanmar’s poor. The latest forecast from the World Bank indicates a GDP contraction of 10% in 2021. • Market prices of rice and cooking oil have increased across all monitored markets since the start of February 2021 by 5% and 18%, respectively; however even higher increases were registered in border states including Rakhine, Kachin and Chin. Given the importance of rice and cooking oil in diets and the expenditure of poorest households on rice, continued price increases will likely further impact household food security. • Myanmar’s economy was already severely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic in2020; a quarter of the country’s population were poor and a further third were vulnerable to poverty. • The current situation is extremely precarious and there may be additional short- and longterm impacts on Myanmar’s food security and poverty levels..."
Source/publisher: World Food Programme (Rome)
2021-04-21
Date of entry/update: 2021-04-24
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Sub-title: The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) today warned of rising food and fuel prices as the current political unrest starts to impact supply chains and markets.
Description: "WFP’s food price monitoring shows that food prices are trending upwards in some urban areas with the retail price of palm oil up 20 percent since the start of February in the peri-urban areas of the main city Yangon, and rice prices in the peri-urban areas of Yangon and Mandalay also up 4 percent since the last week of February. Across the country, the cost of rice showed an average increase of 3 percent on monitored markets from mid-January to mid-February. However, in a few townships in Kachin state, such as Bhamo and Putao, the increases are 20-35 percent. “These initial signs are troubling, especially for the most vulnerable people who were already living meal-to-meal,” said WFP Myanmar Country Director Stephen Anderson. “Coming on top of the COVID-19 pandemic, if these price trends continue they will severely undermine the ability of the poorest and most vulnerable to put enough food on the family table.” Steep spikes in oil prices have been observed in northern Rakhine where the average retail price of cooking oil increased by 27 percent from January to February, and in Maungdaw township the price of pulses jumped 15 percent. Increases in the price of cooking oil have also been observed in central Rakhine State (11 percent) and in Tanintharyi Region (14 percent). WFP has also noted an increase of 15 percent in the cost of fuel countrywide since 1 February, raising concerns about further food price hikes. In northern Rakhine, the price of petrol has increased by 33 percent and diesel by 29 percent. These rising food and fuel prices are compounded by the near paralysis of the banking sector, slowdowns in remittances, and widespread limits on cash availability. In order to ensure life-saving monthly cash and food distributions continue to over 360,000 people – mainly internally displaced and living in camps – WFP is building a contingency food stock, which would allow a switch from cash to in-kind food assistance in case cash availability continues to be limited, or market supply is constrained. “WFP reiterates the call of the United Nations Secretary-General for the will of the Myanmar people expressed in recent elections to be respected,” said Anderson. “At WFP we know all too well how hunger can quickly follow when peace and dialogue are sidelined.” WFP’s food price data were collected from more than 70 townships, across 100 markets and 250 plus separate traders and shops. While monitoring the new trends closely, WFP’s first priority is to ensure its monthly life-saving food assistance continues to reach those in need..."
Source/publisher: World Food Programme (Rome)
2021-03-16
Date of entry/update: 2021-04-24
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Description: "Situation Update: Seven weeks following the military takeover on 1 February 2021, the situation in Myanmar is evolving rapidly, with a high risk of increasing food insecurity and malnutrition, particularly for the urban poor. • Food and fuel prices in Myanmar are rising, according to WFP price monitoring in February. The biggest increase was observed in northern Rakhine, while a 20 percent increase in the price of vegetable oil was recorded in Yangon. Fuel prices increased at least 20 percent across the country, which has an important knock-on effect on food prices. • Demonstrations and the general strike throughout Myanmar are likely to exacerbate the socioeconomic impact of COVID-19 lockdown measures, which saw 80 percent of households lose income.....WFP Response: In February, WFP assisted over half a million people in Myanmar with cash-based transfers and in-kind food assistance, through four activities: Emergency Relief Assistance; Nutrition (stunting prevention and support to persons living with HIV and tuberculosis (TB) patients); School Feeding; and Livelihood Support.....Emergency Relief Assistance: • WFP’s highest priority is to maintain its monthly life-saving assistance to internally displaced people and other vulnerable populations who fully rely on it. • In February, WFP provided life-saving food and cash assistance to 349,200 people in conflictaffected states of southern Chin, Kachin, Rakhine and northern Shan. • In view of current banking challenges or potential constrained market supply, WFP is building a contingency food stock, which would allow it to provide in-kind food assistance if needed.....Nutrition: • WFP provided a comprehensive package of nutrition support for 80,300 children aged 6-59 months and pregnant and lactating women and girls; as well as some 1,350 people living with HIV and TB patients. • Continuing WFP nutrition interventions is critical to avoid short- and long-term public health crises, on top of the pandemic..."
Source/publisher: World Food Programme
2021-03-26
Date of entry/update: 2021-04-24
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Description: "The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) is to mount a new food assistance operation, targeting up to 2 million vulnerable people in the poor townships in Myanmar’s main cities and other areas where population displacement has recently taken place. With the triple impact of pre-existing poverty, COVID-19 and the current political crisis, hunger and desperation are rising sharply across Myanmar. WFP estimates that within the next six months, up to 3.4 million more people will be hungry, particularly those in urban centres. “More and more poor people have lost their jobs and are unable to afford food,” said WFP Myanmar Country Director Stephen Anderson. “A concerted response is required now to alleviate immediate suffering, and to prevent an alarming deterioration in food security.” Already, there are signs of families in and around Yangon being pushed to the edge, skipping meals, eating less nutritious food and going into debt, just to survive. WFP’s response in Yangon will target 10 of the poorest townships, many of which are home to large informal settlements. WFP is also monitoring the situation in other parts of the country, and is ready to provide assistance to affected communities, including those newly displaced by armed conflict, if required. The latest WFP market monitoring shows that in Yangon and across the country, the average rice price has increased by 5% since January, and the average cooking oil price has increased by 18% since February. In Yangon, an up to 25% increase in cooking oil price was also recorded. The increases are particularly high in some border states including Rakhine, Kachin and Chin. In Kachin state, for example, rice prices have risen by up to 43% in some townships, and cooking oil by 32%. The price of fuel has increased by roughly 30% nationwide. Despite the volatile situation, WFP has maintained its humanitarian assistance to internally displaced people and other vulnerable populations affected by long-running conflict. In March, WFP assistance reached 374,000 people in conflict affected areas of southern Chin, Kachin, Rakhine and northern Shan states. In the coming months, the number of people WFP assists will nearly triple – from 1.3 million to 3.3 million. To do this, US$106 million is required urgently. “To prevent a large-scale humanitarian crisis unfolding in front of our eyes, we must step up. We count on the international community to continue standing with the people of Myanmar,” said Anderson..."
Source/publisher: World Food Programme(Rome)
2021-04-22
Date of entry/update: 2021-04-24
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Topic: fisheries, fishing, Ministry of Agriculture Livestock and Irrigation, Food and Agriculture Organization, Tanintharyi Region, Myeiks, muggling, informal economy, Ranong, corruption
Sub-title: A precipitous decline in fishery resources prompted a three-month ban on all offshore fishing in Myanmar waters, but members of industry and civil society groups say more needs to be done to combat rampant illegal fishing.
Topic: fisheries, fishing, Ministry of Agriculture Livestock and Irrigation, Food and Agriculture Organization, Tanintharyi Region, Myeiks, muggling, informal economy, Ranong, corruption
Description: "OFFSHORE BOATS and their crews returned to work on September 1 at the end of a three-month suspension of activities off Myanmar’s entire coastline during the breeding season for fish and shrimp, but the outlook for the marine catch is grim. In previous years, suspensions were partial, and last year applied to 70 percent of vessels, but this year was the first time a ban applied to all offshore commercial fishing. The Department of Fisheries, under the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation, imposed the total ban because of a drastic decline in the marine fishery catch. There has been a 90 percent decline in Myanmar’s marine fishery resources in the past 40 years, according to research conducted by the department in collaboration with the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization under the EAF-Nansen Programme, which is funded by the Norwegian government. U Myint Zin Htoo, the department’s deputy director-general, said further research would be conducted to determine what effect the three-month closure had on fish numbers. “We hope the closure will lead to a significant increase in stocks,” he told Frontier in late August, suggesting that the publication of findings could take some time. Frontier visited Tanintharyi Region’s Myeik District in July, in the middle of the closed season, to learn more about the decline in fishery stocks and illegal fishing off the coast – subjects that are often raised by the region’s MPs in the regional and national parliaments..."
Creator/author:
Source/publisher: "Frontier Myanmar" (Myanmar)
2019-09-17
Date of entry/update: 2019-09-17
Grouping: Individual Documents
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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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