Since 2011, Myanmar has been engaged in a process of political and economic liberalization that is transforming the country’s economy and society. Myanmar’s gross domestic product (GDP) has expanded by over 8 percent per year during this time, fueled in part by strong government and foreign investment. Poverty in Myanmar continues to decline, falling from 32.1 percent in 2005 to 19.4 percent in 2015, while standards of living have improved with average household spending increasing annually by 1.4 percent. New livelihood opportunities in retail and services, particularly in rural areas, also appear to be emerging and represent greater shares of household income.
However, growth in the agricultural sector has been much slower than the overall economy at 3.2% per year. Experiences from other Asian economies such as Vietnam, Thailand, and China suggest that agriculture and the rural sector can provide significant economic gains at the early stage of transition. Given Myanmar’s abundant natural resources and that agriculture makes up around 30% of GDP and 56% of employment, growth in this sector would seem to offer immense potential.
The International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), in partnership with Michigan State University, is undertaking a collaborative program called the Feed the Future Myanmar Agriculture Policy Support Activity (MAPSA) with the financial support of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). This activity will support the government in a time of rapid (yet uneven) transition by:
- establishing the foundations for long-term growth by improving agricultural sector governance;
- building the capacity of key stakeholders to prioritize and implement strategic organizational and policy reforms; and
- facilitating broad stakeholder participation in policy dialogue and advocacy.
While the MAPSA workplan is broadly organized around the strategic policy areas listed below, our annual work plans evolve over time and are tailored toward addressing information needs relevant to the current agricultural policy in Myanmar.
Strategic Policy Research Areas:
Production systems and productivity: We research the policies, institutions, and emerging food and agricultural technologies that can advance agricultural productivity and improve quality and consistency.
Value chains, markets, and private sector engagement: We examine the constraints to market access and services both upstream and downstream of the farm. We assess effective mechanisms for delivering credit to enterprises in off-farm components of agricultural supply chains; forms of regulatory compliance required to facilitate deeper integration with regional and global markets for agricultural produce; and opportunities for businesses to move up the value ladder.
Nutrition: Using primary and secondary data sources, we look at what works to improve nutrition and what does not, and how programs and policies can be better designed and implemented to maximize impacts, and at what cost.
Development strategy analysis and tools: We identify which types of public policies and investments are most cost-effective in contributing to the achievement of development goals and what features of the policy and governance environment can best stimulate these policies and investments. These can be incorporated into the government’s strategic planning and implementation processes, as well as into the strategies of selected regional governments.
Capacity Strengthening
Capacity building is a central objective of MAPSA. Through the increased capacity of government partners and other relevant stakeholders to conduct policy formulation, analysis, implementation, and broad engagement of stakeholders in the policy process, MAPSA is improving agricultural sector governance and thus food and nutrition security in Myanmar. Capacity strengthening is a critical part of all the activities because it is essential for long-term sustainability of agricultural policy reform and implementation.
Enhancing Communications and Institutional Linkages
Policy-relevant research and analysis is the foundation of effective, evidence-based policies. However, research and analysis cannot have an impact if not communicated to those who can learn from it, use it, share it, and build upon it. MAPSA closely collaborates with the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation, USAID, and other research and policy-making partners to identify program priorities and guide its implementation. The program also builds on existing work and capacities in Myanmar by collaborating with institutions and individuals in research, the private sector, civil society, and government.
Partners include the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, and Irrigation, Yezin Agricultural University, and the Myanmar Development Institute, all of which will collaborate to improve research capacity, to validate research results and ensure their relevance, and to enhance their appeal to national policymakers.