Introduction
WorldFish is implementing ‘’the Climate smart aquatic food production opportunities and inclusive market development for economic growth and poverty reduction (MYMarket) Project’’. The project focuses on increasing food production by smallholders and the strengthening of existing market systems within this sector, especially the participation of women and youths, with a special focus on financial inclusion. Access to quality inputs for food production has been severely impacted by a combination of the COVID-19 pandemic, political unrest and climate change. Inputs for the successful production of food (and subsequent marketing and access by the most vulnerable) include credit, information, seed, fertilizer, feed, and business management training. Small scale integrated agriculture-aquaculture (IAA) food production systems will be encouraged by building on WorldFish’s experience which operated in Delta Regions: Ayeyarwady and Yangon Regions, Central Dry Zone: Mandalay, Magway and Sagaing Regions, Rakhine State and Southern and Eastern Shan State. The project will promote access to credit and quality inputs in addition to supporting interventions that will drive improved market access for small-scale producers. Key activities include credit provision, aquaculture extension services both in-person and virtual to promote Better Management Practices (BMP), improved fish seed production and marketing, locally manufactured fish feed sales and use, improved record keeping for profitability monitoring, market information services via phone applications. Improved post-harvest quality control and fish product value addition will generate nutrient dense fish products and employment opportunities for women.
Development Goal and Project Objectives
The goal of the project is small-scale producer Integrated Agriculture-Aquaculture systems scaled out to improve incomes and access to nutritious food, assisted by documented access to credit and increased employment in fish value addition businesses. Inclusive aquatic food production and market development for human nutrition and livelihood security improved with the specific objectives are:
1. Improved aquatic food production.
2. Increased value addition with greater employment opportunities for women and youths.
3. Increased use of digital tools and ICT platforms to improve access to market information andadvance food safety.
Background and Project Objectives of the Call for Proposal
In Myanmar diet, fish and aquatic foods (fresh and processed) comprise a major portion of the animal sourced food.[1] However, it is reported that fish post-harvest practices do not adhere to food safety standard that poses health risk to consumers.[2]
The project will address the needs of some of the most impoverished, food insecure communities in the target areas. The same communities are also vulnerable to extreme weather events, climate variability and the risk of COVID-19 infection due to poor immune systems because of ‘hidden hunger’ from low dietary diversity and low micronutrient intake. We will work with local institutions and NGOs that directly work with these communities through the provision of financial services and existing investments in aquaculture with the specific aim of optimizing impact to improve food security and safety and livelihoods. Work will focus on inclusion and social cohesion and will intensify efforts on gender equality and women's empowerment in the conflict affected Region and State by ensuring that among the target farmers and credit recipients at least 50% are women. The underserved urban and peri-urban area in Yangon will be the focus of increased value addition with improved employment opportunities for women and youths in the fish value chain. Furthermore, the financial inclusion and fish value addition activities will also be continual during the project duration.
In accordance with sustainability aspect, targeted project outputs resulted from project implementing activities based on mentioned above objectives, need to be lasted as long as possible so that contribute to development goals even beyond project. In that sense, MYMarket project seeks qualified local consultants that can deliver ‘’Leadership and Management Training in two areas, delta and eastern Shan, as capacity building approach for farmer group leaders (both men and women) who would serve extension services within their group as well as among community.
The farmer group leaders (also called Aquaculture Promoters) were selected in line with the selection criteria as follows: