This study is a joint work of the Food Security Working Group (FSWG) and GRET. It aimed at assessing the current dynamics of farmers’ organisations in Myanmar.
Agriculture is of central importance in Myanmar as source of livelihoods for about 70% of population who live in rural areas. Some 29% of rural households live below the poverty line.
Farmers’ organizations have appeared at a fast pace since 2012. There have been several drivers for this emergence:
– A release of some bans and threats to allow farmers to conduct joint activities and facilitated the re-apparition of previously underground organizations.
– A movement in land investment by large corporations in sub-urban areas, following the liberalization of the economy. This has pushed farmers to organize protests to claim their land.
– The opening of the economy led to the emergence of collective business oriented initiatives by farmers.
