I: Project Description

“Utilization of fish wastes and herbal products reducing pollution and creating socio-economic development of farm households in Myanmar”

 

The main soul of our team “Agri-Tech Support Team” would like for farm household and agricultural sectors development promoting agricultural technology performing the research and extension activities with farm households, government, private and international organization. Since May 2023, we organized the project entitled “Utilization of fish wastes and herbal products reducing pollution and creating socio-economic development of farm households in Myanmar” through the support of 2023 Global Seed Grant by Korea SHE Foundation in Lower Myanmar and Southern Shan State, Myanmar. The main aim is to promote the use of fish waste as Fish Amino Acid (FAA) nutrient boosters in the farming systems. Moreover, some herbal products creation such as Aloe Vera herbal soap, herbal powder with ginger, sugar palm and finger root mixture,    Grewia spp. and Acacia spp. as natural shampoo, and herbal tea will have to be created to promote the herbal products and income from the farms and natural forests from the some mountainous regions. According to the purpose of this project, the followings are the highlights of our project objectives;

1)     to produce the Fish Amino Acid (FAA) as bio-fertilizer during the fish abundant monsoon season

2)     to use the fish wastes from local markets by minimizing pollution around environment 

3)     to recommend FAA as sustainable strategy among farm households 

4)     to promote the herbal products creation in mountainous region’ farming systems

5)     to cooperate and participate farm households together with fish sellers in training and campaign program

 

II: Project Progress and Activities

To attain the project goals of clean environment, waste to powerful products, natural herbal products achieving high income and socio- economic conditions of the farm households, we have conducted the following preliminary surveys and material and resources collecting in the two regions until 10th July, 2023 by activities guides;

 Activity 1: Preliminary survey for fish wastes collection in the markets   

Activity 2: Environmental pollution and fish wastes utilization campaign among fish sellers and farm households

Activity 3: The materials and natural and herbal resources collection from the markets, farm and nature to create natural shampoo, herbal tea, herbal medicinal powder, herbal soap and medicinal fermented honey garlic  

 

III: Project Progress (Fish markets, farms, and natural resources recording and awareness training)

Since May 2023, Agri-Tech Support has organized the primary survey of the markets (Fig. 1-2) and fish wastes, awareness campaign (Fig. 3 and 4) to create FAA product tank (Fig. 5) with fish seller and farm households by Team Product Officer in the Tharyarwady fish abundant region. Upon return to mountainous region, Agri-Tech Support organized the campaign activities to promote the use of Grewia optiva (Tayaw) as natural product shampoo together with team members, volunteers, local farmers and ethnic groups in the natural forest areas of Saung Pyaung, Pinlaung Township (Fig. 6 and 7), 1450 m.a.s.l within  July, 2023. We also demonstrated the cutting of young stem bark from the tree at mountain (Fig.8 and 9). After peeling, hand grinding with thick knife, and drying, it can be used and stored year round (Fig. 10). The shampoo foaming occur after soaking 10-20 minutes this final products in pure water.

Moreover, Agri-Tech Support arranged the natural herbal soap training (Fig. 11) with the use of Aloe Vera in this village, for the ethnic group especially for the women and girl teenagers. According to the invitation, we demonstrated the Fish Amino Acid as bio-foliar fertilizer (Fig. 12) to be used in the upland rice, vegetables and soil nutrients promoters in this village.

 

Fig. 1.            The fish market situation of Tharyarwady Township 

 

Fig. 2.            The fish market situation of Tharyarwady Township

 

Fig. 3.            Fish wastes awareness campaign creating FAA product with fish seller and farm households

 

Fig. 4.            Fish wastes awareness campaign creating FAA product with fish seller and farm households

 

Fig. 5.              Fish Amino Acid product tank

 

 

Fig. 6.                  Mountain mapping in the natural forest areas of Saung Pyaung, Pinlaung Township at 1450 m.a.s.l

 

Fig. 7.                  Mountain camping in the natural forest areas of Saung Pyaung, Pinlaung Township at 1450 m.a.s.l

 

Fig. 8.                  Cutting of young stem bark of Grewia optiva

 

Fig. 9.                  Cutting of young stem bark of Grewia optiva

 

Fig. 10.               Air drying of young stem bark of Grewia optiva

 

Fig. 11.                Herbal Aloe Vera soap training

 

Fig. 12.               Fish Amino Acid Demonstration with fish wastes removal

 

IV: Project Feedback and Continuation Plan

                     Since May 2023, Agri-Tech Support Team members have communicated the meetings with local township agriculture officer, markets fish sellers, farm households, local ethnic leaders and volunteer students to get frame work of time available, resources data, and to organize awareness campaign in the two regions. Then, the first pilot surveys, resources collection and campaign were performed in the project areas. After planning the training materials and informing to fish sellers, village leader of the farm households, and local ethnic groups, we have accomplished the campaign events, scheduling growing week within the estimated period. The project have impacted to fish sellers, local ethnic groups, and the farm households for the awareness of environmental pollution problems by fish wastes, wastes to product creation, and herbal product creations especially making FAA, herbal products from the nature and farms as a part of increasing food availability and enhancing their income.

                      Regarding with the upcoming project plan, Agri-Tech Support trainers will continue to cultivate demonstration plot using FAA, training with farm households, FAA laboratory testing, herbal product creation training to the farm household especially youth farmers to fulfill the project goal of utilizing fish wastes, reducing environmental pollution around local markets, to develop socio-economic conditions of local farm community by creating herbal products as mentioned in Team motto “Farm to Good Food”. Team trainers will have regular preliminary product making, field preparation for demonstration plot of vegetables, product testing to process product training while we will have regular meeting with farm households.

                      Agri-Tech Support gratefully acknowledges Korea SHE Foundation for support of 2023 Global Seed Grant as a part of promoting sustainable agriculture and food security, and clean environment to the community of the farm households in Myanmar.