Food Insecurity in Myanmar: “We prioritize food for our children because their nutrition is crucial.”

As conflict and instability force nearly half of Myanmar’s population below the national poverty line, with another quarter close to the edge, we visit a project supported by Community Partners International (CPI) in Karen State that is helping families grow food to support their nutrition and livelihoods and increase resilience in uncertain times.

“We are struggling to make ends meet and cannot save for our future,” confirms Ma Nyo, who lives with her husband and three children in Wae Gyi Village, Karen State. “Three years ago, our income matched our expenditure. Now, we are exhausted by high food prices and low income. We prioritize food for our children because their nutrition is crucial.”

The struggles of Ma Nyo’s family are not isolated. The 2024 Global Report on Food Crises paints a stark picture, estimating that about twenty percent (10+ million) of Myanmar’s people are grappling with acute food insecurity. This places Myanmar among the world’s ten most severe food crises.

Myanmar’s food crisis is multidimensional. Already one of the countries most vulnerable to global warming, which can devastate food production, Myanmar is beset by widespread conflict and an economy in freefall. World Food Program (WFP) data reveal that the price of six major food items (rice, pulses, edible oil, onions, eggs, and tomatoes) rose by an average of 16.6 percent annually between 2017 and June 2023.

Nan Lin, a field facilitator with CPI partner, the Yoma Social and Development Association (YSDA), helps monitor the nutrition status of households in 27 villages in Hpa-An Township, Karen State. “We have identified some children with moderate acute malnutrition. Financial problems and the lack of stable employment make it more difficult for families to access nutritious food. I worry that it will become worse, particularly if the villagers are displaced by fighting. Conflict is making it more difficult to transport food.”

To support these communities, YSDA launched a project to support households to grow nutritious vegetables. “We worked with women from each village, including expectant mothers, breastfeeding mothers, and mothers with children under five,” explains Nan Lin. “As the primary caregivers, they provide meals for children. We trained them in organic cultivation techniques and provided them with seeds, including beans, okra, bottle gourd, ridged luffa, eggplant, water spinach, and chili. We also provided equipment like seedling trays, spray bottles, and watering cans.”

Misconceptions around food and nutrition in these communities affect children’s nutritional status. “Many people are unfamiliar with the importance of nutritious vegetables and lean meats,” reveals Nan Lnn. “Some mothers only feed their children rice and salt.”

Nan Lin and her colleagues seek to correct misconceptions and change behaviors around nutrition. “We conduct nutrition awareness sessions and cooking demonstrations. We’ve seen a noticeable improvement in positive social behaviors related to nutrition, especially concerning children under five. People are actively engaging with us and showing a much better understanding of nutrition.”

Ma Nyo is one of the women actively participating in the project. “I’m growing a variety of vegetables with seeds provided by YSDA,” she confirms. “We are familiar with farming, but this training helped us cultivate better. Since the project began, cucumber and water spinach have been most successful, but every plant is flourishing and could be sold for income.”

“Previously, I relied on chemical fertilizer,” continues Ma Nyo, “but I changed my approach after training. I’ve learned valuable techniques such as making organic fertilizer, composting, line sowing, and proper harvesting and storage methods. I now understand about seed propagation methods and optimal plant layout.”

“I can grow plenty of vegetables for our family’s nutrition,” she explains, “and I can sell them to make income and ease our hardships. With the income, I can buy meat, fish, eggs, and other ingredients, so I don’t need to worry about our food situation. I feel so happy when my children eat the vegetables I have grown. They also help in the garden and are learning to grow vegetables.”