A roadmap to building Myanmar into the food basket of Asia

• Active participation by farmers/villagers is a pre-requisite.

• Technical (including training) and financial support must be effective and sustainable during the pilot period.

• The model must have a "multiplier effect" for subsequent similar development in other villages.

• The proposed project must be cost-effective and capable of promoting self-reliance among the farming community in the pilot village or subsequent villages.

Algae

One good source for bio-energy and rural development is algae production. Algae has multiple functions and uses i.e. foods, animal and fish feeds, pharmaceutical as well as energy. It is easy to establish as it requires small land usage and the returns are high. A centralized 40 acre facility can provide villagers with job skills and create high value products.

Poverty Alleviation, Rural Development and Farmers Organisations

The word "Poverty" has now surfaced in Myanmar's national policy and debates in Parliament on poverty alleviation and rural development and has drawn attention to address these issues in national planning.

In this regard, the Myanmar Government has strongly advocated a recent policy on "Poverty Alleviation and Rural Development".

The attack and alleviation of rural poverty must begin with agriculture development, based in agri-business development as the majority of Myanmar's population is agrarian with over 70% of the total population relying/dependent on agriculture for economic survival.

It is important to recognize that the attack on rural poverty must begin with a dynamic realistic and inclusive approach to agri-business development program based on increasing agricultural productivity and income.

This brings us to the need to direct our attention and focus on the "Target Group" which are the farmers.