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Myanmar

Myanmar: An overview of the food security situation in Chin, May 2009

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Introduction

Chin state is located in the north-west part of Myanmar, bordering India and Bangladesh. Most of the state is hilly and mountainous having an average height of 4,000 ft. The main livelihood activity is agriculture and shifting cultivation or slash and burn farming, is widely practiced.

In Northern Chin State, the economic activities are mostly agriculture activities (vegetable and fruit production), livestock, weaving, small trade and seasonal labor work. Regarding food security, the Northern Chin State is representative of upland agriculture systems and the farming systems are based on rotational fallow method to allow time for the regeneration of soil fertility. Over the last twenty years, most of the villages have faced a marked reduction of the fallow period (from 15 years to 6-9 years) due to the increased pressure on agricultural lands. Consequently both natural resources management and agricultural production have been significantly affected.

In May 2009 WFP conducted a monitoring exercise across seven townships in Chin state. The below map depicts the areas of coverage. The data collected while not statistically representative does provide an overview of the food security situation across seven townships. The main purpose of this report is to

1. Obtain a clearer idea of the casual factors of food insecurity

2. Identify linkages between various factors and their affect on household food security

3. Provide critical input for policy makers that could act as a logical starting point for future interventions.