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Farming practices, access to agricultural extension and household food security of women rice farmers in the Delta Region of Myanmar
Dissertation Abstract:
The study aimed to analyze women households' farming practices towards household food security particularly in six villages of the Ayeyarwady region. Data were collected from 126 randomized respondents. Descriptive statistics, Spearman rho, and stepwise regression were used to analyze the relationships of farming practices, extension services, and household food security of the respondents. Results of the key informant interviews and focus group discussions were used to further explain the results.
Findings show that these rice farmer respondents are mostly middle-aged women, married, natives in the study sites, and have attained primary level education. Their households are patriarchal and have an average of five members. Their earnings from farming is below the poverty threshold of Myanmar.
Most of them used traditional method with rice broadcasting, post-emergence herbicide, and inorganic fertilizer in vegetative period in both monsoon and summer. Combine-harvester harvesting with sun-drying and transportation by "Gon-daung" to the market are used in post-harvest handlings.
Betel leaves and various legumes are also grown by irrigation to the field and insecticides spraying are used during the vegetative period. All respondents used manual handlings in post-harvest operations and transported their harvest to the market using "Gongdown".
Government organizations, non-government organizations, international nongovernment organizations and private sectors support extension in this area and government serve as the primary source of support by providing trainings and demonstrations. The respondents mainly get their media extension from the government through MRTV and farmer channel. They are active members in the organization and they also got credit, loan, and farm inputs from GOs and NGOs.
In terms of food availability, rice, fish, eggs, meats, vegetables, legumes, and banana are the usual food present in the homes of the respondents. However, they appear to have not enough milk supply. As to food access, following a 24-hour-consumption guide, it was found out that all respondents mostly have rice, vegetables, and fish for a certain period of time. When it comes to food utilization, most respondents cook their food expect lime which they eat raw. Lastly, as to food stability, it was noted that almost all respondents have enough food in their homes.
Spearman's rho correlation was used to determine the level of significance of farming practices and extension services upon household food security. Popular farming practices noted were manual transplanting (including both pre and post emergence herbicides), use of inorganic fertilizers, application of pest control during the reproductive stage, manual harvest as well as threshing out by bullock-cart and the car transportation of the crop/fresh produce.
Visitation of extension workers were not noted; however high satisfaction in the provision of extension support and training is noted levels. Extension services as to credit, market infrastructure and transport accessibility proved to have huge effects on food security. Farm organization also support food security.
Manual transplanting, efficient transportation strategies, pre and post emergence herbicide use, livestock training, and organized farmers associations have positive effects on food security. On the other hand, lesser access to broadcast media, mechanical pest management, pest control application during the ripening or late stages, non-transportation, and the erratic summer patterns of labor appear to have negative consequences on food security.
In view of all of these, an extension framework for female headed households is proposed to improve their food security situation.