Yangon/Bangkok – The distribution in late-July of 600 buffaloes to farming households in Myanmar’s cyclone-affected delta has greatly assisted small-scale rice farmers to prepare their paddy fields in time for the planting season and will serve as an important asset for upcoming cultivations, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) said today.

On 20 July, 300 households in Ayeyarwady and Yangon Divisions each received one pair of buffaloes as part of an FAO project funded by the United Nations Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF).

All animals received veterinary care and vaccination against major diseases, and were delivered to beneficiaries by the Myanmar Livestock Federation and the Livestock Breeding and Veterinary Department. Sixty tonnes of concentrate livestock feed were procured under the same project, among other essential supplies.

“Continuing efforts to maximize crop yields for the monsoon planting season is critical to improving food security”, said Shin Imai, FAO Representative in Myanmar.

The impact of the 600 animals distributed will resonate beyond the paddy fields of each beneficiary household. Complementary to the social cohesion and team work that is customary to the area, particularly in times of hardship, beneficiaries agreed to share their draught animals with neighbouring farmers.

“The provision of the buffaloes indirectly benefits up to an additional 1 500 households, or some 7 500 individuals”, noted FAO’s veterinary expert Ye Tun Win. “Traditionally, farmers share not only their animals but also their labour to help one another in preparing their land.”

FAO aims to promote self-reliance by rapidly restoring the livelihoods, and food and fisheries production of the people of Myanmar during this critical time.

Approximately 50 percent of buffaloes died in areas worst-affected by Cyclone Nargis. Draught animals are essential to farmers in the preparation of land for paddy rice cultivation, particularly among poor, small-scale farmers in deep water rice production systems.

When Cyclone Nargis struck Myanmar on 2 and 3 May, paddy farmers were at the final stage of harvesting. The cyclone destroyed crop fields, rice stocks, and seed and grain storage facilities, as well as damaged fisheries, aquaculture and forestry resources. FAO estimates that the loss of draught animals coupled with the lack of power tillers will affect land preparation on some 183 000 hectares.

Within the framework of the Revised Myanmar Tropical Cyclone Nargis Flash Appeal 2008, issued on 10 July, the FAO-led Agriculture Cluster requested USD 51 million to further agricultural assistance to cyclone victims most in need. Against this total requirement for agriculture, FAO has proposed activities for USD 33.5 million covering the crop, fisheries, aquaculture, livestock, forestry and coordination sectors.

Details on project proposals and funding requirements of FAO’s emergency activities in response to Cyclone Nargis are available on the FAO and Emergencies website at: http://www.fao.org/emergencies.