IFPRI-Myanmar and partners are conducting a number of surveys monitoring the impacts of COVID-19 on Myanmar’s food security. The following is a summary compiled by the Agriculture and Rural Development Sector Coordination Group (ARDSCG) of the October findings. The full set of findings and recommendations can be found here.
Summarized findings
Poverty increased as incomes decreased
- Communities reported perceived extreme poverty at 27% in September, up from 11% in August
- 63% of households with young children were poor in September, with 35% reporting no income that month (Yangon and Dry Zone)
- Many households have already taken out loans and used savings
- Households reported below normal non-farm wage employment. Landless are more negatively affected than land-owning households
Households are becoming more food insecure
- 59% of respondents in a Dry Zone survey reduced food expenditures and 67% in a report from Chin State and the Dry Zone are eating less fish and meat
- 50% of food retailers report demand disruptions, while supply chains seem to remain durable
Government assistance is reaching communities
- 91% of communities report non-food assistance, mostly from government
- Households that reported participating in cash for work programs fell from a high of 26% in July to only 2% in August/September
- 58-87% of farmers in Chin State and the Dry Zone surveys reported receiving MADB loans, with about half receiving the special COVID-19 supplemental loan
Agriculture/aquaculture production
- Most farmers anticipate lower production due to weather, pests, and low output prices
- Farmers blame a lack of water resources on climate change, reporting insufficient water for both irrigation and drinking
- In early October, over 30% of farmers reported starting harvesting for certain crops, but are anxious about finding a market and procuring inputs for the next season
- Fish suppliers found fewer buyers as demand decreased
- Rice millers report buying and selling disruptions, likely due to movement restrictions
Summarized recommendations
- Continue and scale up social protection measures
- Resume the cash-for-work programs
- Continue cash and credit support for inputs and services
- Adopt a systematic monitoring program for evaluating impact and targeting
- Maintain safe mobility while enabling critical functions
- Continue to promote digital solutions for the marketing, sale, and collection of the monsoon harvest
- Ensure that food markets are safe and open
- Start another messaging campaign on safe practices in firms, as compliance has dropped off
- Extend the terms of loans for households that are on the verge of becoming over-indebted (in line with the recent FRD Directive #5)
- Promote climate-smart agriculture practices to mitigate the effects of climate change shocks
- Improve monitoring systems at the state/region levels for monitoring weather and pest-related shocks
