Poverty and the lack of means to buy or access basic food requirements have been and remain a persistent problem in Myanmar, particularly in rural areas. An estimated 25% of the population live in poverty and 5% live in extreme hardship, with little or no income to spend on essential foods, according to the Integrated Household Living Conditions Survey in Myanmar 2009-2010.
In 2009, the multi-donor Livelihoods and Food Security Trust Fund (LIFT) was launched to tackle the issue of poverty and hunger directly in Myanmar's rural communities. In line with Millennium Development Goal 1 -- to eradicate extreme poverty and hunger -- LIFT's work focuses on improving food and livelihood security in six areas around the country where poverty is of particular concern.
