(25 February, 2016) Two projects launched today in Naypyidaw will focus on promoting sustainable growth of aquaculture to improve food security, nutrition and income for communities in Myanmar’s Ayeyarwady Delta and Central Dry Zone.
The WorldFish implemented project, MYCulture, funded by the Livelihoods and Funds Trust (LIFT) will target small-scale household fish producers with potential to ‘step-up’ to become commercial smallholders. A second project, MYNutrition funded by IFAD, aims to increase production of indigenous small fish through small-scale aquaculture and community-based management of village ponds with increased stocking.
Fish is one of the most important sources of animal protein and micronutrients in Myanmar with average consumption levels estimated between 21 to over 51kg/person/yr. However, with significant levels of malnutrition in the country, these figures are likely to hide a large diversity of consumption patterns.
MYNutrition aims to improve nutrition and livelihoods of poor, rural households in Myanmar, through increased intakes of micronutrient-rich small fish and vegetables from homestead production, as well as through increased household income. Small fish, often eaten whole, are an excellent source of micronutrients such as iron, zinc, calcium, vitamin A and vitamin B12, as well as fatty acids and animal protein.
New USAID-funded research finds that aquaculture is positively contributing to the country’s economy by creating jobs, income and improving the health and wellbeing of the people whose lives depend on it. The research, Aquaculture in transition: Value chain transformation, fish and food security in Myanmar also highlights how the sector has massive potential to grow and develop further by becoming more competitive, spatially diversified and smallholder-inclusive.
Aquaculture production accounts for around 22% of the total fish production volume in Myanmar and has grown significantly in the past decade, reaching 850,959 tonnes in 2010, according to government statistics provided to FAO. This is a long way behind neighboring Thailand and Bangladesh (about 80% and 55%, respectively); farmed fish already accounted for about 20% of the fish consumed in both these countries by the late 1980’s.
One of the most striking features of aquaculture in Myanmar is the absence of a vibrant small-scale aquaculture sub-sector. The Department of Fisheries (DoF) and a number of NGOs post-cyclone Nargis have attempted to stimulate small-scale aquaculture development across the Ayeyarwady Delta and in some areas of the Central Dry Zone (CDZ) but with mixed results.
MYCulture will aim to improve and extend the benefits from large to small-scale producers focusing on 5,000 households directly engaged in aquaculture value chains and a further 5,000 households that will benefit indirectly via awareness raising and exposure to knowledge, sharing and learning.
MYCulture will be facilitated through the core partnership involving Network Alliance Group (NAG), PACT, Groupe de Recherches et d’Echanges Technologiques (GRET) and Department of Fisheries (DoF) as part of the R&D network the Fishery Research and Development Network (FRDN). The announcement follows the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between WorldFish and Myanmar’s Ministry of Livestock, Fisheries and Rural Development (MOLFRD) in 2014 signaling aquaculture development as a priority for the Myanmar government.
MYNutrition will adapt and pilot-test integrated aquaculture and fisheries/agriculture-nutrition linkages approaches, initially developed and practiced in Bangladesh. It is funded by IFAD.
For more information:
Web: worldfishcenter.org
Photography: flickr.com/photos/theworldfishcenter/
About WorldFish
WorldFish is an international, nonprofit research organization that harnesses the potential of fisheries and aquaculture to reduce hunger and poverty. Globally, more than one billion poor people obtain most of their animal protein from fish and 800 million depend on fisheries and aquaculture for their livelihoods. WorldFish is a member of CGIAR, a global research partnership for a food-secure future.
About CGIAR
CGIAR is a global research partnership for a food-secure future. Its science is carried out by the 15 research Centers that are members of the CGIAR Consortium in collaboration with hundreds of partners.
