Refilling the Rice Bowl

Transport in Shan State

The goal for the project I'm working on is to develop a sustainable digital service for smallholder farmers. If successful it should improve crop yield, quality, and nutrition. Myanmar used to be celebrated as the “rice bowl of Asia,” with steady agricultural output and well-managed trade, however the agricultural industry was ruined after the 1962 junta. In our desk and field research we found that farmers lack access to critical information. They live in areas vulnerable to climate change and subject to sudden catastrophic weather events. Many areas were devastated in 2008 by Cyclone Nargis and without timely warning systems thousands died. Economists point to other Asian countries who have recently recovered economically and suggest that supporting the agricultural industry is the surest path to alleviate poverty in Myanmar. Although Myanmar ranks as number 150 of 187 countries on the Human Development Index, the literacy rate in rural areas is an impressive 87% (only slightly lower than in urban areas). The government allowed mobile network operators to enter the Myanmar market very recently, but the adoption of the technology has been rapid with the majority of households in rural areas already owning smart phones.

Our research has focused on three areas: the Ayeyarwady region, the dry zone (near Bagan), and around Taunggyi in Shan state. When in the Dry Zone we've stayed near Bagan so we've had a chance to wander around the temples. The high literacy rate and the prevalence of smart phones suggests a lot of possibilities.

• McCartney, M.; Kaing, O. 2014. A country in rapid transition: Can Myanmar achieve food security? In: Food security and development: Country case studies, ed., Nagothu, U.S. Oxon, UK: Routledge.
• Vota, W. (2014, August 20). Myanmar will be the first smartphone only country. ICTworks.

Teak, numbered and ready for transport, in the Mandalay region, Myanmar

A flower farm in Shan State

Bagan