The dry zone of Myanmar: A strategic resilience assessment of farming communities.

The agricultural sector is a vital and historic source of livelihood in Myanmar, particularly for the poorest segments of its society. Yet, the country continues to underperform compared with its regional neighbors. Agricultural communities largely remain food insecure and trapped in poverty as a result of decades of ineffective institutional support, international isolation, and unsupportive policy. As Myanmar undertakes a process of political and economic reform, there is renewed effort to improve the contributions of the agricultural sector toward pro-poor economic growth. To effectively reduce poverty and improve food security, more strategic support is required, which necessitates a systematic understanding of the current and potential future challenges facing communities in Myanmar. It is for these reasons that Mercy Corps Myanmar, in partnership with Mercy Corps’ Environment, Energy and Climate Technical Support Unit (EEC TSU) and Enlightened Myanmar Research (EMR), has undertaken a Strategic Resilience Assessment.