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Extreme climate change! How does drought in Myanmar threaten agriculture and livelihoods?
As climate change intensifies around the world, drought problems in Myanmar are becoming increasingly serious. The dry climate is bringing unprecedented challenges to the country's agricultural production and farmers' livelihoods. Myanmar relies on monsoon rains for agriculture, but extreme weather caused by climate change is challenging this traditional model, affecting farmers' lives.
Climate change is depleting water sources in Myanmar's villages, especially in arid areas, which has a major impact on agricultural output.
Myanmar's climate varies according to region and altitude, with subtropical and tropical characteristics divided into several seasons. The dry season has been extended, and the sources of rain that we relied on in the past have become unreliable, severely affecting agriculture.
Direct impact of drought on agriculture
In most Myanmar, more than 70% of livelihoods depend on natural capital, such as agriculture, livestock and fisheries. With climate change, crop harvests have dropped significantly, especially some symbolic crops such as rice, cane sugar, tomatoes, etc. are being severely affected. This not only affects food security, but also puts farmers’ livelihoods at risk.
According to reports, the ongoing drought has not only destroyed crops, but also accelerated soil erosion. Farmers have to travel far for water, and the cost of living has increased significantly.
Government’s response
In response to this crisis, the Myanmar government began to cooperate with different international organizations to find solutions. These options include not only providing new agricultural technologies, but also improving infrastructure and improving water management capabilities. By creating climate-resilient crops and improving farmers' adaptability, the government is trying to reduce possible food security issues in the future.
It is worth noting that Myanmar’s cooperation with the World Bank aims to improve power supply and basic medical services so that 6 million people can have a better quality of life, especially pregnant women and children. These measures are undoubtedly part of the response to the consequences of climate change.
Community self-help
In addition to the government's efforts, communities across Myanmar are also actively exploring ways to help themselves. Many poor communities have renewed their focus on forestland protection and management as a way to improve soil conditions and reduce soil erosion. Participation in establishing and managing forests is becoming increasingly popular among these communities, which not only restores the ecological environment but also provides communities with necessary fuel and wood, further mitigating the effects of extreme drought.
The importance of international cooperation
As the impact of climate change gradually expands, international cooperation becomes increasingly important. Myanmar has participated in the Paris Agreement and formulated a national climate change policy in 2017 to protect local ecology and people's livelihoods. In recent years, through multi-party cooperation, Myanmar hopes to improve its technical capabilities in international climate change negotiations to meet future challenges.
Climate adaptation options involving governments, international organizations and local communities are expected to reduce food insecurity in 42,000 households.
Programs such as providing climate-resilient crops and livestock breeds have benefited nearly 30,000 households and improved their ability to capture and store water. Through pipeline expansion and reservoir reconstruction, these projects are gradually showing good results.
Future challenges
In the face of changing climate conditions, Myanmar's agricultural production and farmers' livelihoods will still face multiple challenges. How to effectively deal with drought problems and protect the sustainability of agriculture is a major issue that every national policymaker and farmer needs to face. As the impacts of climate change become increasingly apparent, can we find a more effective solution to protect our future?
