Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar, 10 December 2012 – The LIFT National Knowledge Sharing Forum and Seminar on “Priorities in Agriculture Development of Myanmar” was held today in Nay Pyi Taw to unite efforts under the leadership of the Government of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar.
The meeting held in partnership with the Ministry of National Planning and Economic Development, the Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation, Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), and the Livelihoods and Food Security Trust Fund (LIFT) is the first high-level forum jointly implemented across government ministries, LIFT and FAO.
“LIFT has begun generating knowledge and the forum highlighted the importance of gathering reliable data and using this to formulate evidence based policies and to demonstrate LIFT’s expanding knowledge in the livelihoods sector,” said Ms. Veronique Lorenzo, LIFT Donor Consortium Chair and the Head of Operations, Delegation of the European Union to Thailand.
The meeting was opened by H.E. U Myint Hlaing, the Union Minister for Agriculture and Irrigation and followed by speeches by H.E. U Win Tun, the Union Minister for Environmental Conservation and Forestry and H.E. Dr. Kan Zaw, the Union Minister for National Planning and Economic Development. They stressed the importance of working together and sharing the best practices from within Myanmar and outside so that equitable and sustainable development can be achieved.
Presentations highlighted innovative approaches spearheaded through LIFT’s support. These included micro finance loans to the poor, farmer field schools and good agricultural practices. U Tin Htut Oo, Chairman of National Economic and Social Advisory Council spoke of the need for relevant and reliable information that can be accessed by decision makers and others. He referred to some of the interesting information that has emerged from the LIFT baseline survey:
- The extent of landlessness, which is a significant feature in Myanmar
- High indebtedness and poor access to affordable credit in rural areas
- Substantial differences across the country in terms of agro-ecological and social conditions.
H.E. Christoph Burgener, Ambassador of Switzerland, one of the 10 donor countries contributing to the LIFT Fund comprising Australia, Denmark, the European Union, France, The Netherlands, New Zealand, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and the United States, added "seventy per cent of Myanmar’s population lives in rural areas where livelihoods depend primarily on agriculture. We have learned today that boosting productivity to ASEAN-average levels will require improving land ownership, agricultural credit, extension services, and irrigation.” He added, “This jump in productivity is possible if we share knowledge and have reliable data to inform good policy decisions.”
More than 300 people attended the LIFT National Knowledge Sharing Forum and Seminar on “Priorities in Agriculture Development of Myanmar” from the government, the diplomatic community, UN, development partners, the public sectors, and civil society groups who for the first time were able to engage effectively through an interactive question and answer session. Participants could also view LIFT funded products at a “market place” that had more than 15 exhibits by local and international NGOs on different varieties of rice, organic fertilizers, and weeders used by farmers.
Ten donors set up the LIFT Fund in order to improve the food and livelihoods security of the poorest and most vulnerable people in Myanmar.
LIFT press releases are available at www.lift-fund.org
For more information please contact:
English:
Yasmin Padamsee l Communications Officer l Mob: +95 (0) 973191953 l Email: yasminp@unops.org
Myanmar:
Ne Lynn Aung l Communications Assistant l Mob: +95 (0) 973078744 l Email: nea@unops.org
