Burma (Myanmar)

Achievements

Key indicators and performance for 2009-2010

Indicator: If the international situation permits, a targeted program of new multilateral research projects that address key nutrition and food security issues initiated

Performance: Based on the achievements of an ongoing project on increasing food security and farmer livelihoods through enhanced legume cultivation in the central dry zone of Burma, concept notes have been developed for new multilateral projects. Discussions are in progress with relevant AusAID and Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade colleagues, and approval is awaited for funds to initiate the work.

Achievements from the 2009-10 Annual Report

A project to increase food security and farmer livelihoods through enhanced legume cultivation in the central dry zone of Burma involves ICRISAT as the commissioned organisation. Now, at the end of its third year, the project has progressed in accordance with its work plan. Farmers have identified a number of promising varieties and appropriate management practices for the three food legumes under investigation—peanut, chickpea and pigeonpea. Farmer interactions with researchers have highlighted some of the main constraints to increasing productivity, namely moisture stress and the non-availability of good-quality seed.

In February 2010 a workshop was held in Yezin with the participation of the project team and the main stakeholders. It was a good opportunity to evaluate the progress made so far in the project and discuss issues such as how to increase the quantity of high-quality rhizobial inoculants, the conduct of farmer participatory varietal selection, village seedbank activities, low-cost production technologies, storage pest management and training activities.