Other crops

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Websites/Multiple Documents

Description: "As wheat and rice prices surge, the humble potato is being rediscovered as a nutritious crop that could cheaply feed an increasingly hungry world."
Source/publisher: FAO
Date of entry/update: 2008-05-10
Grouping: Websites/Multiple Documents
Category: Other crops
Language: English, Francais, Russian, Espanol
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Individual Documents

Description: "The early 2000s saw a boom in the banana farming sector in southern China. By 2008, the fruit had become an increasingly popular target of investment, with low supply and soaring prices, and banana plantations were set up across China, as well as in Myanmar and Laos. In rural areas of Laos and Myanmar, farming bananas for export to China is a key avenue of employment: thousands of local people are employed in a business which spans thousands of hectares of land. A 2017 report from Plan International revealed that Chinese-owned banana plantations in northern Laos’s Bokeo Province alone cover more than 11,000 hectares, generate US$100 million in annual exports and make up 95 per cent of all exports in the region. At the same time, a Mekong Region Land Governance report stated that in 2019 northern Myanmar’s Kachin State was estimated to have 170,000 hectares of land converted into banana plantations. The Chinese-owned plantations in Southeast Asian countries use Chinese technology to make tissue-cultured bananas, green in color and bigger than the normal yellow fruit. Most of the plantation workers are aware of shoddy working conditions, yet choose to engage in this work because it pays more than other options. Banana exports bring in more money than any other crop. Despite this, individual workers continue to make an estimated US$200-300 per month, even as the industry rakes in over US$200 million annually. Landowners leasing their land to the Chinese-run plantations are aware of the many drawbacks associated with banana farming, but still rent out their land, or are sometimes deceived into doing so, because of the limited market for traditional crops as well as the high rents they receive. But the consequences of that appear quickly, as local people struggle with land, environmental and health issues. The plantations are run and overseen by Chinese employers and while the labor tending to the plantations are from Myanmar or Laos, they are often migrants from other parts of those countries. This is the preferred practice in Kachin State. The plantation owners would rather hire migrants than local residents, who are more likely to complain about problems. Migrants, on the other hand, get no help in the event of any disputes. They are largely underpaid, receiving an average 6000 kyats, or US$3.28 per day, but there is no one to help them with their problems. Working conditions are exceedingly poor, the plantations are rife with toxic chemicals used in farming the fruit, including Chlorpyrifos, which can cause serious health problems such as lung cancer and lead to death. Taking into account the dire environmental and health hazards, the government of Laos imposed a ban on new plantations and contract extensions in 2017. However, this ban was rescinded in 2018 following a hit to the country’s exports, with the plantations being asked to implement better management and comply with local laws relating to the use of agricultural chemicals. Despite these superficial attempts at reform, a study carried out in 2021 by the International Water Management Institute and the National Agriculture and Forest Research Institute in Laos found chemical contamination in soil and water resources, arising from the banana plantations in the northern parts of the country, which has a hazardous impact on the environment and people’s health. The chemicals used in the plantations end up in the surrounding water sources, contaminating the rivers and creeks. Workers have reported that while they used to drink the water from the streams and wash with it, they cannot do so anymore for fear of their health, as the contaminated water is pumped back to those sources. Polluted water has also adversely affected the local marine life, killing off fish stocks. Plantations often employ ‘worker couples’, a hired pair [sometimes, but not always, husband and wife] that live full-time on the plantations as laborers for months on end. Paid for the whole season, the worker couple can make up to four million kyats, or US$2,300. However, that is dependent on the harvest. If the crop is damaged before the harvest, workers are often left unpaid. The worker-couples have to put up with harrowing working and living conditions. From residing in ramshackle shelters without any showers or washrooms, to carrying up to 60kgs at the time of harvest, the laborers put in immense efforts. The living quarters for the workers consist of metal sheds with just enough space for a bed, with them having to go to the toilet outside and wash in streams which may well be contaminated. While children under the age of 16 are not allowed to work on the plantations, in practice that rule is often flouted with some plantations employing 14-year-olds. Previously, workers were not allowed to go home and were under threat of being fired if they left the plantation for more than a week. However, the COVID-19 pandemic has led to stricter rules, with workers not being allowed to leave even to buy food or other necessities. Instead, they are forced to buy them from Chinese-run stores at inflated prices. Following these increasingly exploitative practices, over 500 workers on a Chinese-owned plantation in central Laos quit their job, reports Radio Free Asia. Workers also complained of exhausting working hours, late or no pay, as well as exposure to toxic, banned chemicals which threatened their health. Despite two local men employed at a Chinese-owned plantation in central Laos’s Borikhamxay Province reportedly dying from exposure to toxic chemicals earlier this year, the employers have never made any provision to provide workers with healthcare if they fall sick, or to pay any compensation in case of death. There have been incidents where workers report being beaten up at the Chinese-owned plantations by employers for ending their work day early on account of exhaustion. Despite the dangerous working conditions, the lack of basic amenities, mistreatment and exploitation, there continues to be a slew of workers coming in to toil on these foreign-owned plantations, because they need jobs and lack other options to earn a good income. There are no checks in place to protect the interests of the workers and migrant laborers, and abuse and exploitation of the workers continues to take place. The themes of socialism and common prosperity that the ruling Chinese Communist Party holds so close to its heart do not seem to extend beyond the country’s own borders, with the Chinese-owned plantations unaccountable for the welfare of their workers and unwilling to take any responsibility when issues crop up. It remains to be seen if Chinese businesses in foreign countries will move towards making any efforts to secure the rights of their local workers, or if the system of oppression and inhuman work conditions remain in place for the foreseeable future. Yan Naing is a pseudonym for a keen observer of Myanmar-China affairs..."
Creator/author:
Source/publisher: "The Irrawaddy" (Thailand)
2021-11-23
Date of entry/update: 2021-11-23
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language:
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Description: "Myanmar is not a country that comes to mind when one thinks of exquisite blends of coffee. But an olfactory and flavorsome revolution is in the making, infusing value into a beverage that has long lagged a poor second to Myanmar’s national beverage, tea. Coffee is growing in popularity. And the export potential is up, with smallholder coffee growers beginning to be able to compete or develop a niche in the world’s coffee market. Coffee is the second most sought-after commodity in the world, with an industry that is worth over $100 billion across the globe. Over 2.25 billion cups of coffee are consumed in the world every day. Over 90 percent of coffee production takes place in developing countries, mostly South America, while consumption happens mainly in the industrialized economies. TRANSFORMING THE RURAL IDYL: It is far too early to see a Starbucks crop up in every town and city in Myanmar. But what we are seeing is the development of standard and specialty coffees aimed at local and foreign palates. Everybody knows that Myanmar’s agricultural sector makes up the backbone of the economy with over 60 percent of the working population toiling the land. But up to a few years ago it was a backward production model typified by scenes of bullocks ploughing the fields and poor communications, mud roads and supply chains..."
Source/publisher: "Mizzima" (Myanmar)
2019-11-02
Date of entry/update: 2019-11-15
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language:
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Description: "Maung Maung, 46, in his home garden where he grows leafy vegetables using hydroponics in Shwe Bon Thar village, Myingyan Township, part of Myanmar's Dry Zone on Feb 22, 2017. TRF/Thin Lei Win PAKOKKU, Myanmar, March 10 (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - Myo Myint fondly remembers when his one-acre farm regularly produced 100 baskets of rice. But as rainfall became erratic in this arid region, he started growing betel leaves, a less thirsty cash crop. This summer, the 50-year-old is considering leaving fallow his land in Myanmar's central "Dry Zone" because when the stream behind his house dries up in March, the cost of irrigation outstrips the income from any crop. A 2016 drought followed by heavy rains already battered his farm. "Water is becoming more scarce every year. I want to keep growing the crops but there's not much I can do without water," he said, sitting beneath the ground floor of his stilt house. His village of Myay Ni Twin, in Pakokku township, is around two hours' drive from Bagan, Myanmar's top tourist destination known for its ancient Buddhist temples. "When I was growing up, the stream didn't go dry. Now there's less rain, and it's very hard to plant things," he said. Myanmar recently emerged from decades of military dictatorship only to face a bigger existential threat. The Southeast Asian nation of 50 million people is the world's second most vulnerable country to climate change, according to the Global Climate Risk Index from research group Germanwatch. Studies have shown the onset of the monsoon is becoming more variable, increasing the risk of drought. The Dry Zone, an area comprising 58 townships in Mandalay, Magwe and Sagaing, is home to around 10 million people, who mostly rely on rain-fed agriculture. It suffers from year-round water shortages. A recent assessment by the Myanmar Climate Change Alliance (MCCA), an initiative funded by the European Union and United Nations, predicted a temperature increase of up to 3 degrees Celsius and a shorter monsoon in Pakokku by 2050. Farmers like Myo Myint - already struggling to make ends meet - will bear the brunt of those changes. His village has a well, but pumping water costs too much, he said. So he was intrigued by the prototypes of soil moisture sensors in the hands of Tayzar Lin, a product designer with Proximity Designs, a Myanmar-based social enterprise that develops affordable products for farmers. "I've been curious since I saw something similar on Facebook," said the farmer, as Tayzar Lin plunged into the soil a boxy contraption with a dial at the top and an alloy-tipped brass rod at the bottom. The hand on the dial moved to green, showing the soil still held water. Red means dry, and blue means too much water. Myo Myint dreams of watering only when needed, instead of every two days as he now does, to save the precious resource..."
Creator/author: Thin Lei Win, Maung Maung
Source/publisher: UNEP (United Nations Environment Programme)
2017-03-15
Date of entry/update: 2019-06-11
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language: English
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Description: ''Communication for Sustainable Livelihoods and Food Security in Myanmar...''
Creator/author: Dr. Naoya Fujimoto, U Htary Naing, U Thaung Win, U Soe Khaing, U Aung Than, U Than Choung, Khin Thuzar Nwe
Source/publisher: ABC International Development
2017-04-06
Date of entry/update: 2019-01-30
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language: Burmese (မြန်မာဘာသာ)
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Description: ''Communication for Sustainable Livelihoods and Food Security in Myanmar...''
Creator/author: Khin Thuzar Nwe, U Aye Ko, U Ko Ko Lwin, U Kyaw Myo Thant, U Aung Ko Latt, U Win Aung Kyaw, U Nyunt Wai, U Min Hlaing
Source/publisher: ABC International Development
2017-04-06
Date of entry/update: 2019-01-30
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language: Burmese (မြန်မာဘာသာ)
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Description: Communication for Sustainable Livelihoods and Food Security in Myanmar.
Creator/author: Khin Thuzar Nwe, Cho Ei Ei Zin, Ko Soe Thura, U Saw Shall War, U Myo Chit, Khun Kyaw Zin Htoo, Daw Latt Latt Khaing, Dr. Hla Kyi
Source/publisher: ABC International Development
2017-04-06
Date of entry/update: 2019-01-30
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language: Burmese (မြန်မာဘာသာ)
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Description: ''Communication for Sustainable Livelihoods and Food Security in Myanmar''
Creator/author: Khin Thuzar Nwe, U Hlan Chin, U Ke Tu, U Htan Hell, U Tint Nay Aung, U William, Mrs. Murielle Morisson
Source/publisher: ABC International Development
2017-04-06
Date of entry/update: 2019-01-30
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language: Burmese (မြန်မာဘာသာ), Chin, English
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Description: ''As part of our development projects in many of Burma's ethnic minority states, we seek to educate more farmers in sustainable agricultural practices. Many have been on the run for so many years that they have forgotten their own traditional farming methods...''
Source/publisher: Partners Relief & Development
2013-09-01
Date of entry/update: 2019-01-30
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language: English
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Description: ''Specific research needs relating to crop improvement for drought resistance must be considered within the broader context of a total agricultural research and extension strategy. At the simplest, the goals of such a strategy are to develop appropriate technologies for increasing the efficiency of food and fiber production while maintaining the long-term stability of the land resource. Whatever the goals, implementation of new technologies ultimately rests with millions of individual farmers. Each farmer and his farm is unique. How do we prescribe a technology that is relevant to the land, labor, capital, and management resources of each individual? If, given a specified minimum set of soil-crop-weather and management data, it were possible to predict the performance of a particular crop system at a particular location, then it would be possible to predict an appropriate technology. This is an attainable objective, but it requires major shifts in the prevailing logic and methods of agricultural research (Nix 1968, 1976, 1979). Basically it requires a shift in emphasis away from the currently dominant reductionist or analytical approaches to holistic or synthesizing approaches. These two approaches are complementary rather than competitive. Adopting a systems approach emphasizes the need for interdisciplinary teamwork. Knowledge and insight from the range of biological, physical, social, and economic disciplines become necessary. It formalizes what is known about crop production systems — their more important components, processes, and feedback mechanisms — and helps to identify significant, subtle constraints. Most importantly, the possible consequences (ecological, agronomic, economic) of introducing a new technology can be evaluated by using modeling and simulation techniques and field experiments designed to test model predictions...''
Source/publisher: International Rice Research Institute (IRRI)
2018-12-25
Date of entry/update: 2019-01-25
Grouping: Individual Documents
Category: Rice, Other crops
Language: English
Format : pdf
Size: 4.74 MB
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Description: ''It’s midday in Ashe Nge Toe and work is winding down for the day. U Sein Htun and some neighbors are gathered around a table in the shade under his house to chat over cups of green tea and tea leaf salad. In his front yard, the gains of the day’s labor — red chilies — have already been spread out across a large tarp to dry in the sun. U Sein Htun has been a farmer for 33 years. Like most farmers in the area, his main crops are chili and onions. U Sein Htun also owns two paddy threshers which he rents out in return for baskets of rice, and he’s saving to purchase a tractor and plow, which he says he’ll be able to rent out for far more...''
Source/publisher: Proximity Designs
2018-09-18
Date of entry/update: 2019-01-25
Grouping: Individual Documents
Category: Rice, Other crops
Language: English
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Description: This report provides a summary of key findings from research on food security and the agriculture sector in Myanmar. The focus is on material relevant for a bio-physical characterization of the country. As such, there is little emphasis on material primarily addressing socioeconomic, policy, or institutional aspects of agriculture and food security. This study is based solely on desk research, and it does not involve a field research component. The report is organized by topic, with each section including a bulleted list of significant summary points followed by a brief list of critical gaps or issues to explore during the field mission to Myanmar in November 2012.
Creator/author: Kye Baroang
Source/publisher: Center on Globalization and Sustainable Development, Earth Institute at Columbia University
2013-05-00
Date of entry/update: 2016-04-12
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language: English
Format : pdf
Size: 1.84 MB
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Description: "This Situation Update describes events occurring in Bilin Township, Thaton District in October 2015, including updates on the 2015 general election, education, and development projects. - Villages under the administration of the Burma/Myanmar government are able to vote in the 2015 general election. However, villages located in Karen National Union (KNU) controlled areas have not been adequately informed ahead of the election. - Local Karen teachers selected to teach in villages have had to resign after Burma/Myanmar government teachers were sent to teach in Bilin Township, sparking concerns that Karen language education will be given less attention and taught outside of school hours. - Heavy rain and floods damaged paddies, and, combined with an increase in the paddy price, caused livelihood concerns among some villagers. - The main roads that have been under construction in Bilin Township since 2013 will be completed during 2016. Although useful for the villagers, the road construction has caused problems for some villagers whose lands have been damaged..."
Source/publisher: Karen Human Rights Group (KHRG)
2016-02-25
Date of entry/update: 2016-04-10
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language: English
Format : pdf
Size: 501.81 KB
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Description: "The Ta?ang (Palaung) people are traditionally tea cultivators, however, they currently face economic hardship due to a decline in the tea market in 2011. Although the tea price was good and many tea traders bought tea during the Shwe Pyi Oo (first harvest), one week later the price of tea fell and just a few traders were buying tea. After that the tea market was very weak and tea production almost came to a halt. The Shwe Pyi Oo tea season occurs over one month from the end of March to the end of April, and is an important time for the livelihoods of the Ta?ang people. The majority of Ta?ang people who produce tea live in Namhsam, Mantong, Namtu, Namkham, Kutkai, western Kyaukmae and Thipaw in Northern Shan State. Tea production is the main source of income for over (600,000) six hundred thousand Ta?ang people. Because the main source of income of the Ta?ang people is in crisis and the monopoly of the regime, the local population is facing many related economic, social, educational and health problems. The new Burma?s military regime and other organizations have not addressed the crisis that the Ta?ang people are facing as a result of the decline of the tea industry. Therefore, the Ta?ang (Palaung) working group has produced this briefing paper about the problems that Ta?ang tea cultivators are facing. Our objective is to inform people and to help solve the problems that Ta?ang tea cultivators are facing in the Palaung area..."
Source/publisher: Ta?ang (Palaung) Working Group - TSYO, PWO, PSLF
2011-06-05
Date of entry/update: 2012-01-25
Grouping: Individual Documents
Category: Other crops
Language: Burmese
Format : pdf
Size: 395.84 KB
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Description: The Ta?ang (Palaung) people are traditionally tea cultivators, however, they currently face economic hardship due to a decline in the tea market in 2011. Although the tea price was good and many tea traders bought tea during the Shwe Pyi Oo (first harvest), one week later the price of tea fell and just a few traders were buying tea. After that the tea market was very weak and tea production almost came to a halt. The Shwe Pyi Oo tea season occurs over one month from the end of March to the end of April, and is an important time for the livelihoods of the Ta?ang people. The majority of Ta?ang people who produce tea live in Namhsam, Mantong, Namtu, Namkham, Kutkai, western Kyaukmae and Thipaw in Northern Shan State. Tea production is the main source of income for over (600,000) six hundred thousand Ta?ang people. Because the main source of income of the Ta?ang people is in crisis and the monopoly of the regime, the local population is facing many related economic, social, educational and health problems. The new Burma?s military regime and other organizations have not addressed the crisis that the Ta?ang people are facing as a result of the decline of the tea industry. Therefore, the Ta?ang (Palaung) working group has produced this briefing paper about the problems that Ta?ang tea cultivators are facing. Our objective is to inform people and to help solve the problems that Ta?ang tea cultivators are facing in the Palaung area.
Source/publisher: Ta?ang (Palaung) Working Group - TSYO, PWO, PSLF
2011-06-05
Date of entry/update: 2012-01-25
Grouping: Individual Documents
Category: Other crops
Language: English
Format : pdf
Size: 363.06 KB
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Description: The political economy of Shan tea under British colonial rule. "...Tawngpeng State, the major tea-producing area in the Federated Shan States, contained an area of 938 square miles. As of 1939 the population of Tawngpeng was 59,398 and it had a revenue of Rs. 645,634. The State was divided into 16 circles which corresponded as closely as possible to clan-divisions. Geographic features were characterised by hills ranging from five to seven thousand feet in height interspersed with valleys that averaged approximately ten miles in length and from a few hundred yards to a few miles in width. Maurice Collis, a former Burma civil servant, noted that upon approaching Namhsan, the capital of Tawngpeng which lies at the centre of the State at a height of six thousand feet, ?there is a vale and in the midst, ten miles away, is a ridge, on one end of which stands the town of Nam Hsan with the palace over it on a circular hill....The vale is one vast tea garden?. On the lower levels of the hillsides, Palaungs and Shans grow tea whilst higher up Kachins and Lisus practice shifting agriculture. Shans predominate in the valleys where rice is the staple crop..."
Creator/author: Robert Maule Department of History, University of Toronto
Source/publisher: Thai-Yunnan Project Newsletter No. 14, September 1991
1991-09-00
Date of entry/update: 2003-06-03
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language: English
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