Myanmar: Consultant - Identify Best Approaches for Water Supply and Storage for Agriculture For Small Farmers in Chauk and Yenanchaung Townships

Dec 19, 2016 | World Vision
View Original

World Vision Myanmar is implementing a project titled “Improved Economic Livelihoods and Environmental Management Project in Myanmar” in 29 villages in Chauk and Yenanchaung Townships, Magway Division funded by the New Zealand Aid which aims to improve the economic status small farmers.

The purpose of the service is to identify best approaches for water supply and storage systems for agriculture production of small farmers in Chauk and Yenanchaung Townships in Magway Division. 5 villages in total should be visited for this assessment: Chauk Township (Taung Tae Gyi, Ka Daing and San Su Myay villages); Yenanchaung Township (Nyaung Zin and Na Ywe Taw villages). The total population in all 5 villages is 450 households, 50% are farmers. These water supply and storage systems should be for individual/group farmers and able to irrigate from 2 to 4 acres per farmers after the rainy season. Water catchment areas should also be close to the production plots of individual/group farmers. The identified approaches should be replicable in other villages in the same townships.

In the Dry Zone of Myanmar, variability in water resources and insufficient capacity to manage that variability lies behind much of the prevailing poverty and food insecurity. Access to safe and reliable water for agriculture is widely acknowledged to be a key constraint to livelihoods and peoples’ wellbeing.

Improving water availability and access, as well as water management, in the region would reduce risk, stabilize agricultural productivity, increase the resilience of households, improve food security and, contribute to poverty reduction.

The main objectives of this service are:

  1. Determine strategies for improved dry season water supplies sufficient for agriculture production of 2 – 4 acres per farmer in 5 villages in Chauk and Yenanchaung Townships.
  2. Complement the revision of secondary information with field visits to 5 villages total in both townships to ensure best approaches for water supply and storage
  3. Provide design details of appropriate water harvesting and storage systems in accordance to objectives 1 and 2, including high and low level technologies

Background

Myanmar is primarily a rural country which relies heavily on its agricultural sector as a source of national income. Agriculture, hunting and forestry are the largest employers in the country accounting for half of total employment. Manufacturing employs only about 6% of economically active population. The remainder of the population is employed in the low-end service sector which is mainly divided between trade/repairs (10.5%), miscellaneous productive activities (7.9%) and renting and business activities (7.1%). Average farm size in Myanmar is 6.7 acres which is moderate by regional standards.

Poor households have smaller land holdings than less-poor households with 4.4 and 7.3 acres respectively. Because of the importance of the agricultural sector in Myanmar, small farm size is correlated to poverty. Landlessness is found in 24% of the population which consider their primary occupation as agriculture. They are mostly employed as casual workers and tend to be poorer than land owning households.

The central Dry Zone of Myanmar is characterized as densely populated and more rural compared to the national average. The current population of Myanmar’s Dry Zone districts is 9,794,814 (19% of total). Of these, the great majority are rural residents (83%). Population density is approximately 1.7 times the national average, and households consist of five to seven persons on average.

Food insecurity is a primary constraint for Dry Zone communities. The situation is characterized by a reliance on market purchase for food access in a context of low, undiversified, agriculture-based incomes, high debts, and reliance on credit. Households generally report adequate food utilization, dietary diversity, and consumption. However, nearly 40% of households have difficulty meeting their food needs on an annual basis. The primary reported coping strategy is a reduction in portion size (27%).

The primary crops grown in the Dry Zone are rice (22% rainfed and 29% irrigated of the national total), oil crops (89% of sesame, 69% of groundnut, 70% of sunflowers), and pulses (93% of pigeon pea and 97% of chickpea). According to GoM land use classifications, the majority of farmland is designated for production of field crops (68%), irrigated rice (12%), rainfed rice (9%), and garden/upland crops (5%). Average farm size is small, but larger than the national average. More than half of farms are less than five hectares (54%) and 83% are less than 10 hectares.

Methodology

The proposed methodology should include:

  1. Desk review of secondary information sources:
  2. Analysis of Rainfall Data
  3. Surface Water Resources
  4. Groundwater Resources
  5. Field Visits
  6. Assessing local, national and international experiences on water harvesting and storage

Proponents should provide a detailed description on how they will implement the service incorporating the topics mentioned above.

The topics are for guidance only and should not be limited to them. It is highly appreciated if proponents could submit improved proposals to this ToR.

Proponents should include in their proposal CVs of key staff who will participate of this service.

Budget

Proponents should submit a budget in US Dollars including all costs associated to this consultancy service including staff, international travel, accommodation, meals, materials, etc. It is expected that budget should include all costs.

Deliverables

  1. Best approaches are identified for each zone to enable extended agriculture production in the dry season for individual/group farmers up to 4 acres per farmer
  2. Provision of detailed blue prints and budgets for water harvesting and storage systems per zone. This should include one high tech and one low tech solutions
  3. Recommendations are provided for water and soil conservation per zone
  4. A final report of the consultancy service is submitted incorporating lessons learned and recommendations
  5. PowerPoint presentation of main results

BACKGROUND AND EXPERIENCE OF CONSULTING FIRM AND ASSGINED STAFF

  1. At least 5 years of experience in assessing and identifying water collection and storage systems for small farmers in arid areas, including rain harvesting
  2. Knowledge of water availability and patterns in the Myanmar Dry Zone
  3. Experience in carrying out similar services in the Myanmar Dry Zone