Burma

Support Food Autonomy and Restore Livelihoods for Vulnerable Populations in Laputta District, Myanmar

• Funding: Food Aid Programme (French MAE)
• Budget: K€255
• Duration: 9 months (April to October 2011)

Triangle G H started operating in Myanmar at the end of 2007 and focused on the Delta region in the wake of cyclone Nargis. Our action in Kungyangon and Laputta districts has constantly sought to improve production means of the various economic sectors (rice, fishing, breeding, handicraft). A combination of anterior national policies and the impact of the cyclone led to a severe crisis currently hitting agriculture and fishing.

Through a succession of dual-action projects we have aimed at restoring production levels (reinstating farming and fishing activities) to raise food availability in the area in the medium term, while performing food distributions and thus guaranteeing immediate food safety for the populations during their transition to restored livelihoods.
“Work for Food” activities (payment in rice, according to the traditional system) allowing land preparation and repair of infrastructures (bridges, roads, jetties) have also been implemented to guarantee income to daily workers, who cannot obtain usual benefits.

Despite such efforts, there are many needs to fill in the Delta area that has not recovered its pre-Nargis agricultural production level. In order to support the farmers, sustainably restore production capacities and thus contribute to food safety in Labutta district, Triangle GH plans to carry out a new project with the following actions:

• Protection of cultures via construction of dikes and prevention actions for pests control
• Reduction of the lean period for the most vulnerable households via “Work for Food” activities
• Support local seed production systems (purification and multiplication) by establishing seed banks
• Support management practices before and after harvesting via adapted ploughing work (rototillers)
• Technical training to introduce improved farming practices (to reduce production costs and raise benefits).

The project will directly benefit 10,000 people and indirectly benefit 20,000 additional people.