Improving water management in Myanmar’s Dry Zone for food security, livelihoods and health

Variability in water resources and insufficient capacity to manage that variability lies behind much of the prevailing poverty and food insecurity in Myanmar’s central Dry Zone. Lack of reliable access to water constrains livelihoods and the development of a vibrant agriculture sector. The poor and landless are particularly vulnerable to climate shocks, such as droughts and floods, and other extreme weather conditions. Experience in other developing agricultural economies indicates that water management is an important entry point to improving smallholder production. It reduces the risk of crop failure, facilitates cultivation of a second crop, and enables farmers to invest in improved crop varieties and fertilizers. For landless people, it improves opportunities for employment.

International Water Management Institute (IWMI). 2015. Improving water management in Myanmar’s dry zone for food security, livelihoods and health. Colombo, Sri Lanka: International Water Management Institute (IWMI) 52p. [DOI]

This report is based on a rapid assessment conducted in 2013 by the International Water Management Institute (IWMI) in collaboration with National Engineering and Planning Services (NEPS), and Myanmar Marketing Research and Development (MMRD) Research Services.

This research study was initiated as part of the project: Sustainable management of water to improve food security and livelihoods in the Dry Zone of Myanmar.

The study team gratefully acknowledge the assistance of the Myanmar Food Security Working Group (FSWG) in organizing consultation workshops, and the Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation (MOAI), Myanmar, for supplying data on irrigation schemes and river water levels. International Water Management Institute (IWMI) would also like to thank the Water Resources Utilization Department (WRUD) of the Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation (MOAI) for providing the required permissions to conduct the community-level survey.

Contributors: Robyn Johnston, Ameer Rajah and Soumya Balasubramanya (IWMI, Colombo, Sri Lanka); Sonali Senaratna Sellamuttu, Matthew McCartney, Paul Pavelic, Somphasith Douangsavanh, Guillaume Lacombe, Touleelor Sotoukee and Diana Suhardiman (IWMI, Vientiane, Lao PDR); Cho, Khin Latt, Aye Myint, Kyaw ­ein and Aung Kyaw Zan (National Engineering and Planning Services [NEPS], Yangon, Myanmar); Olivier Jo‑re (Independent consultant); and Ye ­aung Htut (Myanmar Marketing Research and Development [MMRD] Research Services, Yangon, Myanmar)