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Greening the Dry Zone

Conserving Land while Improving Water Access and Food Security in Myanmar

June 5^th, 2015

At various times between the 11th and 18th centuries, two ancient kingdoms took root in what is now Myanmar‘s Dry Zone, largely thanks to productive agriculture supported by skilled water management techniques.

Today, little trace remains of the rich and fertile agricultural land, extensive canals, and abundant water that once existed in the heart of this now Dry Zone.

No Time for Dreams

“I don‘t have time for many dreams in my life. My family is usually struggling for our daily needs… Water is always a big concern. Without rain, I cannot do anything.” Daung Yi, Sin Ka Village, Chauk Township, Magway Region

Daung Yi is a young mother living in the Dry Zone, where water is scarce, vegetation cover is thin, and soil is severely eroded. The communities living here are increasingly vulnerable to food insecurity and severe environmental degradation.

The major economic activities are small-scale livestock rearing and subsistence farming such as paddy, sesame and groundnuts. Many landless people work as seasonal farm labourers, migrating to urban regions during non-planting time to find temporary employment. Chronic poverty in Myanmar’s Dry Zone is directly correlated with the effects of drought and dry spells.

Limited Water, Limited Livelihoods

Daung Yi and her family are surviving on the equivalent of US$2-3 a day, secured by her husband climbing 30 trees per day to cut toddy palm and produce palm sugar (jaggery) and wine.

The nearest well to Daung Yi’s family serves 700 households and is a 15-20 minute walk away. At an average cost of US$0.60 to fill a 200 litre barrel, this can mean a serious drain on the family’s time and limited financial resources. In Daung Yi’s family, there are 12 people – 2 grandparents; Daung Yi, her husband and 3 children; and her brother-in-law, his wife and 3 children – entailing a minimum daily need of 240 litres.

Limitations to Livelihoods

UNDP is supporting efforts to secure water resources and reduce food insecurity in 42,000 households in five of the most vulnerable townships of Myanmar’s Dry Zone. With financial support from the Adaptation Fund (AF), UNDP and the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Conservation are addressing environmental risks through community-based and community-driven adaptation.

“The project will enhance resilience of local communities to environmental impacts through integrated crop and livestock management, as well as application of local soil and water conservation techniques to ensure food security and water availability in one of the most climate sensitive and natural resource poor regions in Myanmar” - Karma Rapten, Technical Specialist, UNDP Myanmar

By reducing the risks and effects from recurring droughts, floods and erosion, the Myanmar government has an ambitious target of supporting nearly 250,000 people in the area.

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Improved Watershed Management

To reach the people of the Dry Zone, one of the key project initiatives is to enhance water capture and storage in 280 villages, providing continuous freshwater availability and making the difficulties in procuring sufficient water for livelihood and survival a thing of the past.

The increase in water availability will be further leveraged by promoting climate-resilient agricultural and livestock practices. These efficiency measures will allow the scarce water of the Dry Zone to go farther and reach a broader swathe of the most vulnerable.

Efforts are also underway to rehabilitate 4,200 hectares of micro-watersheds through farmer-managed natural regeneration strategies, and establishing community-based agro-forestry plots on 7,650 hectares of private and communal lands. These initiatives will ensure the conservation of the region’s soil and water.

Realising Dreams

Taking a strategy based on principles of local empowerment, this project is making key technical investments in targeted townships. Subsistence farmers will benefit from improved water supply on drought-prone fields; access to diversified and improved crops for fields and home gardens; expanded agro-forestry services; diversified livestock rearing; and arrested soil erosion and watershed protection.

The landless will benefit from diversified livestock assets, improved ecosystem services, and greater opportunities for paid work in the water, forestry and agroforestry related sectors.

And women like Daung Yi will have time to dream.

For more information: www.undp-alm.org/projects/af-myanmar

Footnotes

Story by Andrea Egan, Karma Rapten, Lat Lat Aye, Yusuke Taishi, and UNDP Myanmar / Photos: Andrea Egan

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FootNotes

Story by Andrea Egan, Karma Rapten, Lat Lat Aye, Yusuke Taishi, and UNDP Myanmar / Photos: Andrea Egan

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Greening the Dry Zone

Conserving Land while Improving Water Access and Food Security in Myanmar

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