Resource information
Highlights:
•
Cyclone Komen made landfall in Myanmar at the end of July 2015
causing extensive flooding to
agricultural land, which remained
submerged
in some areas until September. This caused severe
localized losses to the 2015 monsoon season crops, especially p
addy, in Chin, Rakhine,
Ayeyarwaddy, Yangon, Sagaing
and parts of Bago. However, once the water receded, a large portion
of the flooded areas with paddy was replanted. Overall, the amount of irreversible damage was
limited.
•
At 27.5 million tonnes, the
aggregate
national production
of paddy,
the country’s staple food, in
2015
(monsoon season 2015 and ongoing 2015 secondary season) would be 3 percent below the 2014
crop and 2 percent down
from
the average of the past
three
-
years.
•
At subnational level, however,
cereal
production and livelihood of farming households and
communities in remote areas, in particular Chin and Rakhine, which concentrate highly vulnerable
populations with little resilience and low agricultural productivity, did not recover fully as in other areas
affected by the flooding. These populations may face severe food shortages in the coming months
and require relief assistance.
•
Livestock and fisheries were affected by the flooding in localized areas with losses of cattle, buffalo,
sheep, goats, pigs and poultry, and damage to fish and shrimp farms, resulting in reduced animal
protein intake in the most affected areas.
•
The country is a net exporter of rice and the 2015 paddy production, similar to previous years,
will
exceed domestic requirements, but tighter
domestic
supplies in marketing year 2015/16
(October/September)
are expected to
further
underpin
already high rice prices, raising
concerns about
food access by most vulnerable sections of the population.
•
Prices of rice reached record levels in August and September
2015,
reflecting strong
depreciation
of
the
Kyat, increasing rice exports and
concerns about the damage to paddy crop. Domestic rice prices
declined with the harvest
between October and December 2015
but remained at
high levels.
In
February
2016,
rice
prices
averaged 37
percent higher than a
year earlier.
•
For the majority of farming households,
the main impact of the July flooding
was
related to the
increased costs for replanting and
the delayed harvest.
Households depending primarily upon day
labour, and especially non-skilled day labour, re
main among the most vulnerable. They faced a gap in
wages during August and have difficulties in obtaining credit.
•
The July flooding was perceived to have moderate impact on children’s nutritional status and little
impact on infant and young children feeding practices.
•
In view of the
country’s adequate rice availabilities
and
generally
well-functioning
domestic markets,
the Mission recommends that any
eventual
food assistance
needs
to
be
provided
in the form of cash
and/
or vouchers.
•
To cover immediate
agricultural needs following the 2015 flooding, the Mission recommends the
distribution of seeds for the next monsoon planting season;
as well as
water and pest-resistant
storage containers to protect farmer’s seeds, along with drying nets and post-harvest
equipment
in the
most affected areas. In
Rakhine, Sagaing
and Ayeyarwaddy, recording the highest livestock losses,
urgent
restocking
of livestock is required to avoid a
further
fall in animal protein intake; while the
rebuilding of fishing gear and boats
and the
rehabilitation of fish ponds is
also
needed
in the most
affected Rakhine State.
