Myanmar floods: huge impact on agricultural livelihoods, more international support urgently needed

Torrential monsoonal rains, exacerbated by Cyclone Komen, caused widespread flooding and landslides in Myanmar from July to October this year. Agriculture bore the brunt of the disaster, with the sector accounting for half of all losses.

The Myanmar Government, FAO and the World Food Programme (WFP) led an assessment of the impact on farmers in the six most-affected states or regions of Sagaing, Chin, Ayeyarwady, Rakhine, Bago and Magway. The Agriculture and Livelihood Flood Impact Assessment, released in mid-October, shows the floods and landslides had a devastating impact on food security and agricultural livelihoods.

Key findings include:

• More than 527 000 hectares of crops affected—mostly paddy rice—with some areas losing the entire crop for the monsoon season
• Almost 2 500 hectares of agricultural land affected by landslides, mostly in Chin state
• More than 242 000 livestock killed (poultry, cattle, pigs and goats)
• Almost 30 000 hectares of fish and shrimp ponds lost, as well as fishing equipment such as nets, traps, boats and engines
• Seasonal work opportunities have been significantly reduced
• Price hikes due to increased transport costs have impacted heavily on farmers’ ability to buy and sell produce