This is where we bring all the departments together. We setup the working group and define the agenda for each theme. This chapter is part of a series on Hierarchical Spatial Planning Framework
Whoa… We have come a long way. We have spent close to 15 months to come so far.
We are now aware and in agreement with the need of Hierarchical Spatial and Land Use Planning (Click here). We also agree on the significance of a state land use planning policy (Click here and here). We have also seen the importance of Cooperation strategy and the approach that we can adopt for preparing such a policy. (Click here).
After setting the working group let us prepare and undertake the thematic consultations. We also document and extract outputs and outcomes from them in terms of visions and land use interaction matrix with an example. This chapter is part of a series on Hierarchical Spatial Planning Framework
We are nearing completion of month 18 now. It has been three months since we are sensitising every stakeholder department on their role and ownership for the policy. Fortunately, they all agree and are on board. Hopefully, we also have a formal government notification circulated to at core as well as extended working group members.
In short, we have already set up the working group. First battle won.
We are now well into the details for each sector. We have so much information on land use change and sectoral challenges. Let us spatially represent them and use the power of visualisation. We do this with two examples. This chapter is part of a series on Hierarchical Spatial Planning Framework
We have been working for the past 24 months now and undertaken an extensive study of our state. We have looked at the baseline scenario in terms of governance structure, department roles and their mandates, we have developed a good understanding of Land uses and its statistics for our state, we have also analysed the policies and strategies in detail.
We look at the evolution of state spatial strategies through the lens of the three pillars of sustainability i.e. environment, economy and society with two proposals/examples. We also get links to the details for of the two proposals. This chapter is part of a series on Hierarchical Spatial Planning Framework
For addressing the challenges and issues economic disparity, water constraints, or other sectoral conflicts and land use planning challenges as discussed earlier in Chapter 14, a state level spatial strategy can ensure that use of land is in general driven by its most economical and least environmental impact.
A state spatial strategy would ideally advocate assigning priority areas for economic development, no development as well as conservation and augmentation of water. This can improve economic competitiveness along with more equitable income distribution as compared to a scenario of continued water scarcity.
This is a Digital Artifact developed for a project assignment submission as part of an online course in “Financing for Development” offer by “edX”.
About the Project:
Assignment: Propose a financing solution that will unlock financial opportunities in a country of your choosing (must be a fragile or conflict state), integrating the IDA Private Sector Window in your solution
Country of Choice: Myanmar
Target Audience: Government officials, policy makers, representatives of public / communities
Focus Area: Rural Poverty Reduction and Sustainable Agriculture through Agri-Infrastructure Development incorporating community based development supported by IFC’s Private Sector Window and a Government Programme.
Method: Role play / imaginary meeting between representatives of Government, community / public forums, IDAs (multi-lateral, bilateral etc.), private sector, NGOs & community organisations, research organisations, banks etc.
They together arrive at a possible multi-stakeholder solution / programme based approach which can be explored or detailed out further.
Disclaimer
All facts and figures as indicated in this document have been sourced from various articles, papers, reports and documents as available on internet in the public domain. Some of the solutions indicated as part of this document have been collated and/or inspired from existing development initiatives in Myanmar and other parts of the world.
The key sources and references are:
Kyosuke Inada, “Catalysing Subnational Development in Myanmar : Balancing Local Preferences with National and Sector Policy”, The Asia Foundation, August, 2014
IFAD: Investing in Rural People – Republic of Union of Myanmar, Country Strategic Opportunities Programme, Document No. EB 2014/111/R.6, March 04, 2014
Thomas Reardon, “Success Strategies for Poverty-Alleviating Rural Development for Myanmar: Lessons from Asian Experience”, Michigan State University, Brief Prepared for National Workshop on Rural Development Strategic Framework Agenda, Naypyitaw, Myanmar, November 18, 2013
Representative of the Government gives a brief introduction of Myanmar
Republic of the Union of Myanmar, is a sovereign state in South East Asia bordered by Bangladesh, India, China, Laos and Thailand. About one third of Myanmar’s total perimeter forms an uninterrupted coastline of 1,930 km (1,200 miles) along the Bay of Bengal and the Andaman Sea. The country’s 2014 census revealed a population of 51 million people. Myanmar is 676,578 square kilometers in size. Its capital city is Naypyidaw and its largest city and former capital city is Yangon (Rangoon).
Myanmar became an independent nation in 1948, initially as a democratic nation and then, following a coup d’état in 1962, a military dictatorship.
For most of its independent years, Myanmar has seen rampant ethnic strife and one of the world’s longest-running and ongoing civil wars. The military dictatorship was officially dissolved following a 2010 general election, and a nominally civilian government was installed. While some former military leaders still have enormous power, the military has taken steps toward giving up control of the government.
Myanmar is divided into twenty-one administrative subdivisions, which include: 7 regions, 7 states, 1 union territory, 5 self-administered zones and 1 self-administered division. The regions can be described as ethnically predominantly Burman (Bamar), while the states, the zones and Wa Division are ethnic minority-dominant.
States and regions are divided into 67 districts. These districts consist of townships that include 330 townships, 64 sub-townships, 377 towns, 2,914 Wards, 14,220 village tracts (groups of adjacent villages) and 68,290 villages.
The mountain chains divide Myanmar’s three river systems: Irrawaddy, Salween and Sittaung. Majority of Myanmar’s population lives in the Irrawaddy valley.
Agriculture in Myanmar
Main stay of country’s economy
Accounts for 60 percent of GDP
Employs 65 – 70 percent of labour force
Once Asia’s largest exporter of rice
Other main crops include pulses, beans, sesame, groundnuts, sugarcane, lumber, and fish
Characteristics of Myanmar’s Agriculture
Slash-and-burn method (shifting cultivation)
Dependent on monsoon season for water
Susceptible to fluctuating weather patterns (e.g. 10% drop in production during prolonged 2011 monsoon season)
Insufficient investment in research, extension, technology transfer, infrastructure development, value chain upgrading and marketing
Lack of remunerative prices to farmers due to structural reasons leading to declining rural incomes
While Myanmar yields more than enough food to feed its entire population, many still go hungry for lack of purchasing power
The income gap in Myanmar is among the widest in the world. As of 2014, according to the Human Development Index (HDI), Myanmar ranked at 148 out of 188 countries
Representatives of Farmers and Local Communities voice their opinion
We face following challenges:
Small land holdings for most farmers
Marginal employment, we don’t have work in other seasons
Single cropping, lack of skill set for other crops / activities
Monsoon dependent, lack of irrigation techniques
Flooding damages our crops as well as agricultural produce
Lack of village facilities
Lack of logistics facilities, bad road and other transport connectivity
Lack of market access and facilities
Rice price fluctuations
Lack of government fund allocation and lack of citizen involvement in local government’s decision making
In efficient public expenditure and corruption
Lack of information
Representative of the Government:
The government recognises these challenges as 70% of poor are located in rural areas. The government has identified following as focus areas:
Priority to provide essential services in rural areas
Develop markets and linkages to local, regional, national and global levels
Modernise and improve agricultural practices and productivity
Improve rural roads with all weather connectivity
Rural electrification to support irrigations measures
Improve river navigation, flood control, and reduce vulnerability to disaster shocks
Skill development to diversify economy, markets, trade, financial institutions
Improve citizen engagement by encouraging community driven investment planning for local infrastructure and services
Improve health and education in rural areas
Representatives from International Development Agencies / Assistance:
(IFC’s Private Sector Window)
We think Myanmar needs to look at options for innovative financing and more involvement of private sector resulting in increased commercial potential of SMEs in agribusiness and farmers by connecting value chains at local, regional, national and global levels
Focus: Agri-food security for small farm holders by
Increasing productivity of small farm holders and improving access to credit, cooperatives
Supporting innovations to develop technology for increasing productivity and reducing water consumption, promote efficient use of fertilizers and explore multiple cropping of farmland
Risk assessment and reduction especially for climate proofing, first loss cover, weather insurance, and support SMEs in investment
Private Sector Representatives:
Agri-business Sector is willing to
Markets: explore business, develop and invest in market facilities and infrastructure
Logistics: backward and forward linkages to markets and agriculture, distribution centres, collection centres, transportation, renting of farm equipment and materials
Invest in granaries, warehouses, cold storage facilities
Invest in research and development in agriculture
Explore Opportunities in Horticulture and Floriculture
But we lack technical and financial resources, the banks also don’t lend us money
Other business (high value)
Lots of funds available under Corporate Social Responsibility funding, but we do not know where, what, when and how to fund. Its not our expertise
Concerns of the Local Financial Institutions / Banks
Expect support from International Development Agencies to gain confidence
Small farm holders to adopt cooperative approach /self-help groups (SHG) for debt funding for logistics infrastructure as well as investments for agricultural modernisation
Project advisory of International Development Agencies to guide debt funding in developing logistics facilities like granaries, cold storage etc.
Loans to farmers for purchasing seeds
Explore pooled debt funds for funding agri-infrastructure projects to reduce our exposure to risks
How to evolve an Environmental and Social Risk Assessment Framework for improving our investment efficiencies by reducing risky investments
NGO / Foundation / Research Organisations:
To act as resource centres for:
Promote cooperative farming and SHG formation
Training & capacity building
Skill Development
Financial literacy of local government, community and MSMEs for efficient use of existing financial resources
Awareness generation and information sharing platforms / networks
GIS based planning and micro water shed management
Best use studies for agricultural land
Research on modernisation of agriculture
Representatives from International Development Agencies / Assistance:
(IFC’s Private Sector Window)
Great!! We look forward to a programme in Myanmar wherein we undertake innovative and blended financing as follows:
Long term and short term financing through support and capacity building of location banking / financial markets to ensure access to financial resources for small farm holders and MSMEs
Equity Capital: to agribusiness supply chain logistics, distribution, food production and process, and other agri-infrastruture
Insurance: First Loss Cover, Weather Insurance
We will also provide advisory services for
Climate proofing and Climate smart agriculture
Data base management
Result based monitoring systems
Environmental and Social Risk Assessment Framework for Banking Investments
Representative of the Government:
I thinks it’s a good idea!! We have a programme with IFAD which focuses on developing four kinds of partnerships:
Structured co-financing with partners: Develop structured co-financing of the country programme, rather than project-by-project co-financing
Partners may include the World Bank, the Asian Development Bank, the European Union, the Japan International Cooperation Agency and the Export-Import Bank of Korea
Focus on infrastructure development, financial services, technologies and capacity-building
Seek climate change financing from IFAD Adaptation for Smallholder Agriculture Programme, the Green Climate Fund and the Global Environmental Facility
Private-sector partnerships with national and/or multinational private sector entities
Business partnerships with agri-businesses for vertical value chain integration based on contractual relationships with smallholder organizations
Financial partnerships with private-sector firms under the corporate social responsibility agenda
Partnerships with national private sector to evolve gradually
Technical partnerships with institutions providing technology and knowledge solutions in favour of smallholders and landless entrepreneurs
Relations with ministries and research institutes
International organizations for providing policy advice, improved technologies, rural financial services and operational services
Advocacy partnerships with civil society organizations or NGOs over a period of time
Additional References
“Burma (Myanmar) – Agriculture”. Encyclopaedia of the Nations
tarksthal - तर्कस्थल 