FAO in Myanmar

Addressing food and nutrition security in COVID-19 times and beyond

04/06/2020

Since March 2020, when Myanmar confirmed its first COVID-19 case, the number of cases has increased steadily. As in most countries worldwide, measures to contain the spread of the virus in Myanmar have disrupted livelihoods resulting in social and economic challenges. Health systems are rising to the challenge, while people are experiencing high levels of stress due to restricted mobility and the fear of outbreaks, and economies and food systems are under increasing pressure.

As the virus spreads and the government executes response measures to control the pandemic, the agriculture and food systems will be strained in countless ways. The likely impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on Myanmar’s food and nutrition security are multifaceted and wide-ranging because the processes that govern food production and food supply chains comprise a complex web of interactions involving farmers, agricultural inputs, processing plants, shipping services, traders and retailers, all of which are under duress. Additionally, auxiliary agricultural services such as storage, transportation and logistics, finance, marketing, research, and extension services have been affected by the lockdown measures.

For instance, in the crop production sector, the likely disruption of input supplies for the planting season may lead to seasonal and long-term food shortages and income losses, compromising purchasing power and access to a healthy diet. Wage decreases and livelihood loss could deepen poverty, push households to resort to negative coping strategies, and compromise their resilience to any further shocks such as floods that is likely in some parts of the country given the upcoming monsoon season.

According to the Myanmar Livestock Federation’s recent survey, the livestock sector is hard-hit by the crisis and many businesses face financial difficulties. The fishing sector is also affected.

The direct impacts may be worsened for households with direct incidences of COVID-19 through lost labor opportunities and income, incurred expenses, and decreased agricultural production. Those households that are already economically disadvantaged; suffering from food insecurity and malnutrition; or vulnerable to socioeconomic shocks, natural hazards, and conflict are more likely to suffer severely from COVID-19, both physically and socioeconomically, deepening their short- and long-term vulnerability. Vulnerable households may cope by selling their livestock assets.

The recently launched government’s COVID-19 Economic Relief Plan (CERP) outlines support for farmers and agricultural businesses through proposed actions that let development partners and other actors know that the government recognizes the importance of food and nutrition security, as well as increased production in the agriculture, fishery, and livestock sectors.

The COVID-19 pandemic continues to evolve, and the scale of the extent of the impact remains uncertain. Therefore, the concept of forging strong partnerships cannot be overemphasized. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations encourages policymakers to consider social protection programs to meet the immediate food needs of vulnerable populations, keep international food trade going, keep the local supply chain gears moving, and support farmers’ ability to maintain and increase food production. Moreover, market information on prices, production, consumption, and stocks must remain up to date. Disruptions to food supply chains by poorly coordinated policies risk locking in – or even worsening existing inequalities.

Myanmar will recover and we must start now to plan for a better recovery. We will maintain our support to the government in the development of coherent and evidence-based policies and programs to mitigate the risks of the pandemic in terms of food security and nutrition to enhance the country’s resilience to future shocks and stresses.

Xiaojie Fan

FAO Representative in Myanmar

Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar