Author : Soe Khaing

Summary : The study aimed to conduct a comprehensive analysis of rural poverty and linkages of farming system, poverty, and environmental degradation in Central Dry Zone of Myanmar. The primary data used in the study were collected through field survey which was conducted in February to April, 2017. Secondary data were collected from DOA, DALMS and CSO.

The study used two-thirds of mean per capita household consumption expenditure of rice-based farming households of the study area to determine poverty incidence of farming households. The estimated poverty line of the study area was 989 kyats/day which is equivalent to about US $ 0.78/day. Headcount poverty index, poverty gap index and poverty severity index of the study area was 0.26, 0.04 and 0.01, respectively.

Consumption expenditure, human capital, financial capital, natural capital, physical access and productivity of non-poor households were higher and better than those of poor households. Consumption expenditure, human capital, financial capital, natural capital, physical access and productivity of households in irrigated area are higher and better than those in rainfed area. Education of household head, family size, cultivated land holding of household, tenure status, annual income of household, access to agricultural information and knowledge, access to credit, positive attitude to work hard of household head, and rice-only cropping pattern are the variables that determine poverty status of farming households.

Path analysis showed that farming system has direct and positive relationship with poverty and it has direct and indirect, and negative relationship with environmental degradation through poverty. Furthermore, poverty has direct and negative relationship with environmental degradation. In addition, poverty-related variables, farming system related variables and environmental variables are correlated with each other.

The study recommended the following: integrated approach for development: a) provision of better extension services and agricultural information, b) provision of agricultural credit, c) provision of irrigation sources and facilities, d) enhancing non-farm income, e) enabling policy environment, f) paying attention to socio-demographic factors, and g) addressing environmental degradation.