© Helvetas
Myanmar

Improving income by adopting climate smart rice growing practices

© Helvetas

The Climate Smart Rice and Water Productivity projects aim to support the Government of Myanmar, the agri-business sector and smallholder rice farmers to stimulate transformation of the rice sector towards sustainability by promoting climate smart and resource-efficient best practices.

  • Project Name
    Climate Smart Rice and Water Productivity
  • Project Phase
    2019 to 2022
  • Funding
    Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation and Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation
  • Thematic focus
    Private Sector Development
    Rural Access
    Climate & Disaster Resilience
    WASH & Water Governance

The Myanmar Rice Sector Development Strategy aims to boost rice production and transform Myanmar from self-sufficiency to a sustainable rice exporter. The planned expansion in the country’s rice sector is, however, highly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change and natural disasters. These impacts, including changing hydrological cycles, rising temperatures, salinity, drought and natural disasters, are causing increasingly severe damage across the entire agricultural sector. Facing such formidable challenges, there is a need to strengthen sustainability issues in existing policies whilst enhance productivity and efficiency not only at the farm level, but for all rice value chain actors.

To address these challenges, the project aims to support the Government of Myanmar, the agri-business sector and smallholder rice farmers to stimulate transformation of the rice sector towards sustainability by promoting climate smart and resource-efficient best practices.

Implementing partners of this project are UN Environment Program, HELVETAS Myanmar, PRIME Agri Limited and the Sustainable Rice Platform.

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© Helvetas
Push: Promotion of climate smart and resource efficient technologies. © Helvetas
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© Helvetas
Pull: Market promotion of SRP rice by bringing rice millers and farmers together in economically and socially sound fair contract farming scheme. © Helvetas
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© Helvetas
Policy: CSR project team meeting with the Parliametary Committee on Agriculture, Livestocks & Rural Development (PCALRD), Nay Pyi Taw. © Helvetas
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The primary approach used is known as "Push-Pull-Policy" with the following specific objectives: 

Outcome A: Rice-based resilient farming systems widely adopted, leading to improved farmer livelihoods (Push).

Outcome B: Certified export and sustainable domestic rice value chains established and functioning (Pull).

Outcome C: Policy and regulatory framework strengthened to support the national rice sector development strategy (Policy).

Video: “Changes in the Fields”

© Helvetas
“Changes in the Fields” is an environmental feature documentary following the lives of farmers in Myanmar and explores the challenges they face that are exacerbated by climate change. 

More information about climate smart rice growing practices (in Myanmar language): 
 

Introduction

Part 1 - Farm Management

Part 2 - Pre-Planting 

Part 3 - Water Usage 

Part 4 - Nutrient Management 

Part 5 - Integrated Pest Management  

Part 6 - Harvest and Post harvest  

Part 7 - Health and Safety 

Part 8 - Labor Rights  

Additional Documents

Lesson learned

Videos

Land Leveling
Farm Mechanization
Rice Dryer
Water Efficiency
Optimizing Input Usage
Contract Farming
Seed Production
Gender
Covid19 Crisis
© Helvetas / Simon B. Opladen

Water

The most vulnerable communities of the world suffer from dirty water.. Every year, we support up to 500,000 people in getting access to clean drinking water and sanitary facilities.

Private Sector Development

Youth need access to reliable, fairly paid jobs to break the cycle of poverty. Helvetas creates partnerships and promotes policies that build more inclusive economies.

Climate & Disaster Resilience

Every year, we support over 1,000,000 people in adapting to climate change, reducing the risks of disasters, sustainably managing natural resources, and conserving nature.