I: Project Description

 “Farming Systems as Sustainable Production Promoting Food Security and income level of Farm Households in different Agro-ecological zones of 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 19^th April, 2022, we organized the project entitled “Farming Systems as Sustainable Production Promoting Food Security and income level of Farm Households in different Agro-ecological zones of Myanmar” through the support of 2022 Global Seed Grant by Korea SHE Foundation in Lower Myanmar and Southern Shan State, Myanmar. The main aim is to provide good food from farm products to community. According to the purpose of this project, the followings are the highlights of our project objectives;

1. to maximize the intensity of different farming systems of farm households
2. to use the effective strategies for sustainable farming systems in different farming systems
3. to recommend the sustainable farming systems enhancing high food security and high income
4. to promote the food security status of farm households in different farming systems
5. to compare the income level of farm households in different farming systems
6. to cooperate and participate regional farm households together with the key farm household in different region

II: Project Progress and Activities

To implement the maximum farming intensity of project goals, we have conducted the following activities;

Activity1.1: Preliminary survey and project meeting with local officer

Activity 1.2:  Collection of crop production data in rice, vegetables and soybean farms in Tharyarwady township, lower Myanmar and Aungban, Kalaw, Hsihseng townships, Southern Shan State.

Activity 1.3: Farmer Training “Sustainable Farming Systems and Food Security” and “Effective use of Natural Pesticides Application”

Activity 2.1:  Farmer Training “Promoting E.M and Bokashi as Organic Fertilizers”

Activity 2.2:  Farmer Training “Introduction to the Products Sources of Organic Fertilizers”

 Activity 2.3:  Supporting good quality seed to key farm households for farming systems

Activity 3.1:  Field checking and Introduce for soybean plantation (corn-soybean cropping) to recover soil fertility in heavy feeder corn crop  

III: Project Training and Field Checking Record 

Agri-Tech Support Team has organized the following training events as shown in figures during the May and June which are the monsoon season in the target food crop production of the project areas. 

Fig 1-9: Training events of activity 1.3, 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 3.1 to farm households for vegetables, soy bean and rice growing regions

Fig 10-14:     The agro-ecological situation of farm households for vegetables, soy bean and rice growing regions

Fig 15-21:   Granted seeds (F1 and Registered Seeds), bamboo hat-handicraft and materials purchased delivered to farm households

Fig 21-23:     Home gardening in backyard of rice farmers’ as a part of food availability for food security and seasonal income  

IV: Project Feedback and Continuation Plan 

Since 4.5.2022, Agri-Tech Support Team members have organized the meetings with local townships agriculture officer and volunteer students to get frame work of production data, and to organize trainings. Then, the first pilot surveys were performed in three townships of project areas. After planning for training materials and informing to village leader of the farm households, we have accomplished the training events, scheduling growing week, linking seeds dealers and delivering good quality seeds to catch monsoon season for plant growth within the estimated period in targeted production areas. The project have impacted to the farm households for the awareness of sustainable practices of food crop production especially making organic fertilizers, natural plant based pesticides,  and reducing chemical inputs in vegetables, soybean, paddy production. Moreover, the home gardening practices have increased in the backyard of rice production areas as a part of increasing food availability and enhancing their income. Regarding to the upcoming project plan, Agri-Tech Support Team trainers will continue to share practices and train the sustainable agriculture practices to fulfill the food secure to the farm households and community as mentioned in Team motto “Farm to Good Food”. Team trainers will have regular field checking, field training and suggestion according to the plant growth stages while we will have regular meeting with farm households. Agri-Tech Support Team gratefully acknowledges Korea SHE Foundation for support of 2022 Global Seed Grant as a part of food security and sustainable food crop production to the farm households in Myanmar.