Mon State Livelihoods and Rural Development Strategy Zaw Oo, Mateusz Filipski, Duncan Boughton, Paul Dorosh Mawlamyaing, Myanmar May 2, 2016
Rural Mon Household Survey Implemented by CESD, MSU, IFPRI Funded by USAID Conducted May-June 2015 1680 Households 140 enumeration areas (12 hh / EA) State- representative 4 strata: Rice, Rubber, Orchards, Marine Fishing, 420 households in each. 3 agro-ecological zones. Coastal (17%), Lowland (45%) and Upland (38%) Included both household and community questionnaires 2
Household Incomes in Rural Mon State 100 Agricultural Production Fishing 11% Wages Labor 14% Other 12% Agriculture 24% Remittance s 22% % of Total Income 80 60 40 20 Remittances Non-farm Enterprise Wage Labor Fishing Salaried Labor Credit and Other Non-farm Enterprise 17% 0 1 2 3 4 5 All Income Quintile - Per capita Livestock Resource Extraction Source: 2015 Mon State Rural Household Survey. 3
Migration: Opportunities and Constraints High wages abroad Remittance-fueled growth, construction boom Labor market constraint 31 percent of people aged 15-45 years have migrated Age Groups Mon State Rural Male and Female Population by Age, 2015 95 to 100 90 to 94 85 to 89 80 to 84 75 to 79 70 to 74 65 to 69 60 to 64 55 to 59 50 to 54 45 to 49 40 to 44 35 to 39 30 to 34 25 to 29 20 to 24 15 to 19 10 to 14 5 to 9 Under 5 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 Number of People in Thousands Males Females Source: Mon State Rural Household Survey, May-June 2015 Source: 2015 Mon State Rural Household Survey. 4
Mon State Agriculture in Transition 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0% Households cultivate crops Households doing Agricultural Wage Labor Mon State: Share of Agricultural Income, 2015 16% 19% Rice Rubber 12% 53% Other annual crops Other perennials Half of households cultivate crops, 20% are agricultural wage workers Rice still the biggest contributor Fruits and vegetables are nonnegligible 25 20 15 10 5 0 % of households cultivating Rice Rubber Orchards Vegetables Source: 2015 Mon State Rural Household Survey. 5
Livelihoods Strategy Framework 6
Livelihoods Strategy Overview Theme Theme 1: Growth opportunities and policy options for dynamic agricultural activities Theme 2: Promote sustainable growth in highpotential non-farm sectors Theme 3: Public infrastructure and services to strengthen the enabling environment Goal A.Revitalize rice-growing areas B.Restore profitability in the rubber sector C. Promote the growth of high-value added fruit and vegetable crops D.Strengthen extension, training and dissemination E. Modernize input markets and input financing A. Ensure sustainability of marine capture activities and development of aquaculture B. Harness growth in the construction sector C. Reap benefits from the potential for tourism development A. Strengthen local government B. Build transport and communications infrastructure for rural growth C. Promote the creation of private enterprise D. Develop a dynamic financial sector E. Provide social services to rural populations F. Expand safety nets 7
Rice Sector Challenges Costs of cultivation are rising Mainly labor costs Productivity is falling Low levels of fertilizer use Irrigation systems not maintained Pest issues (snails) Underperforming varieties 95% of rice land is not irrigated Limited room for river or canal expansion Feasibility of expansion of small-scale tubewells should be assessed 8
Rice: Policy Options Objective Actions Develop Irrigation Systems - Evaluate potential for river pumping - Assess groundwater resources - Promote tube-wells where feasible Maximize Yields in nonirrigated Monsoon rice Develop Rural Infrastructure for mediumscale mechanization (e.g. combine harvesters) Modernize processing, output markets, and downstream supply chains - Build drainage systems and embankments to minimize risks - Encourage appropriate fertilizer use - Curb the snail infestation and invest in pest-control - Develop improved seeds for Mon State - Build access roads and level the land - Increase the reach of Agricultural Mechanization station - Facilitate the development of private mechanized service providers - Develop farmer groups or cooperatives for mechanization - Milling and storage - Develop a strong quality infrastructure 9
Rubber Sector: Current Situation 20% of rural households cultivate rubber; it accounted for about 4% percent of household income in Mon State Large amount of investment in recent years; about half of rubber trees planted are too young for tapping Quality / value chain requires substantial investment / improvement Special attention to smallholders required World prices have fallen; a competitive real exchange rate is crucial for long run competitiveness 10
High Value Crops: Fruits, Vegetables, Pulses Mon state is famous for quality of fruits Rambutan, Pomelo, Mangosteen, Durian Vegetables sold on local Markets Mon is still a net buyer Both are very profitable Need irrigation Labor intensive No fruit or vegetable is yet exported Pulses also highly profitable, some exports All these high-value crops are constrained by availability of water. 900,000 800,000 700,000 600,000 500,000 400,000 300,000 200,000 100,000 0 Mean Profit (Per Acre), 2015 Rice Rubber Orchard Other Annual Crops 11
High Value Crops: Policy Options Objectives Invest in Modern Irrigation Systems Increase yields and ensure reliable quality and quantity Modernize output markets and value chains Actions - Assess groundwater resources - Promote tube-wells where feasible - Promote drip-irrigation systems for water efficiency - Develop and disseminate improved and adapted seeds - Promote sustainable and reliable pest-control - Encourage diversification and intercropping - Encourage fertilizer use - Improve access to financial services - Invest in supply chain infrastructure, cold storage, transport - Ensure quality and safety - Develop processing and by-product markets - Facilitate exports 12
Fish: Challenges and Policy Options Fish: 11 percent of household income in Mon State (mostly in-shore marine capture) 30% of coastal household incomes Ensure sustainability of in-shore marine capture activities Promote development of aquaculture Requires sufficient but not excessive water Need legislation to allow land rights for conversion from rice to fish ponds 13
Other Non-Farm Sectors Objectives Promote growth in the Construction sector Reap benefits from the potential for tourism development Actions - Enforce the legal framework for residential and commercial construction - Clear titles and licensing procedures - Promote local sources of building materials - Encourage training of the labor force - Evaluate potential for different types of tourism: historical, cultural, beach, eco-tourism - Enhance protection of environmental, cultural and historical sites 14
Theme 3: Public Infrastructure and Services to Strengthen the Enabling Environment Strengthen local government Build transport and communications infrastructure for rural growth Promote the creation of private enterprise Develop a dynamic financial sector Provide social services to rural populations (health, education) Expand safety nets 15
Mon State Government: Policy Options Community Participation: Establish farmer groups and other feedback mechanisms to facilitate bottom-up planning and policy design Public Investment: Propose viable projects to get additional funding Devolution: Medium-term: reforms to increase state level authority to design and implement sub-national development strategies and projects Education and Technical Change: Encourage technology transfer (e.g. by returning rubber tappers), vocational training, SME loan guarantee scheme; strengthen primary and secondary education 16
Coordination with Union Government Invest in major infrastructure: ports, major highways, electricity Expand consultations with state government on public investment priorities and implementation Promote international trade and competitiveness: Maintain a competitive real exchange rate through effective macro-economic policy management so as to maintain incentives for production of tradable crops (e.g. rice and rubber). 17
Thank you 18