Agriculture is a potential pathway to improved nutrition, and the need for investments that boost agricultural production, keep prices low, and increase incomes is undisputable. In Myanmar, the Japan Scaling Up Nutrition (SUN) Trust Fund, the Agricultural Development Support Project (ADSP), and the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) are aiming to meet this need by improving irrigation infrastructure and enhancing the agricultural productivity and incomes of farmers.
In their research on this project, Catherine Ragasa, Kristi Mahrt, Zin Wai Aung, Isabel Lambrecht, and Jessica Scott utilize data from two irrigation sites in Myanmar’s Dry Zone to assess women’s empowerment, gender equality, and nutrition using innovative and tested methods for data collection and analysis.
You can view the full publication by Catherine, Kristi, Zin Wai Aung, Isabel, and Jessica in English here.
Background
In May 2019, the Japan Scaling up Nutrition (SUN) Trust Fund, the Agricultural Development Support Project (ADSP) and the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) initiated a research project that aims to diagnose, design, and test interventions to enhance gender equality and nutrition impacts within the ADSP coverage areas (Nay Pyi Taw, Bago East, Mandalay, and Sagaing).
The research of the IFPRI-Myanmar team focused on communities in the catchment areas of two of these irrigation sights, the Sinthe irrigation site in Tatkon township, Nay Pyi Taw region, and the North Yamar irrigation site in Pale and Yinmarbin townships, Sagaing region.
To provide empirical evidence on the status of women’s empowerment, gender equality, and nutrition, IFPRI-Myanmar used the project-level Women’s Empowerment in Agriculture Index (pro-WEAI) in its surveys. Additionally, the research team measured the Minimum Dietary Diversity for Women of Reproductive Age (MDD-W) score, which is a good proxy for micronutrient adequacy in women of reproductive age. For comparison, they extended this indicator to men.
Findings
Reducing the gender gap in knowledge access
Women were not only less likely than men to receive agriculture- and nutrition-related information and training but also less likely to access information and communication technologies such as smartphones, the Internet, and social media. As such, extension and training programs should involve both men and women rather than targeting only household heads, who are often men.
Men and women also have different channels for accessing nutrition-related information. Women were more likely to receive agriculture- and nutrition-related information from another farmer, a neighbor, or extension workers. On the other hand, men were more likely to receive nutrition-related information from radio, TV, the Internet, or social media.
Improving women’s empowerment
Results show large gender empowerment gaps, in which fewer women than men achieved adequacy in pro-WEAI empowerment indicators. A total of 89 percent of women versus 64 percent of men respondents were not empowered and 66 percent of dual-adult households have gender disparities. Strategies to empower women and reduce gender gaps should be strengthened.
Improving nutrition
Food groups that should be promoted in the study area and in future nutrition education are (1) nuts and seeds, (2) eggs, (3) vitamin A-rich fruits and vegetables, (4) dark leafy vegetables, (5) other fruits, (6) beans, and (7) small fish with head and bones. Almost no one in the study group consumes dairy because of its limited availability and cost, people’s preference, and in some cases lactose intolerance.
With development community actors fearing a potential long-term health crisis following the immediate health and economic crises from the COVID-19 pandemic, there is a critical need to emphasize the importance of diet quality, sanitation, and health.
Improving crop productivity, diversification, and commercialization
Farmers were growing diverse crops on their farms. However, more diverse crops can be grown in multiple cropping seasons once irrigation facilities are improved. Though the productivity of rice and chickpea in the past three seasons was comparable to baseline estimates by ADSP, the productivity of sesame is very low and there is wide variability in yield across farmers.
Further research is underway that analyzes the drivers of increased incomes, nutrition, women’s empowerment, and gender equality in these focus areas. Additionally, an intervention that focuses on gender and nutrition behavior change communication and incorporates lessons from the baseline research is being designed and is soon to be piloted.
Catherine Ragasa is a Senior Research Fellow in the Development Strategy and Governance Division (DSGD) of the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), based in Washington DC, USA. Kristi Mahrt is a Senior Research Analyst in DSGD of IFPRI, based in Colorado, USA. Zin Wai Aung is a consultant for the World Bank and IFPRI, based in Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar. Isabel Lambrecht is a Research Fellow in DSGD of IFPRI, based in Yangon, Myanmar. Jessica Scott is a Research Fellow from WorldFish, based in Yangon.
This blog post was prepared by Michael Wang, Mickey Leland International Hunger Fellow in DSGD of IFPRI, based in Yangon. The analysis and opinions expressed in this piece are solely those of the authors.