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Myanmar

Myanmar: Food Security Update - February 2014

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(extract)

Early Warning and Situation Reports

Shan State

Drought-like conditions in Hsi Hseng caused damage to over half of the pigeon pea plantations. In one village, planting of asparagus was introduced by a private company, with a demo plot of 12 acres for this year. The company provides seeds and technical support and will expand to villages that have sufficient water supply for asparagus.

In Phekon, last year’s harvest is expected to be sufficient to last until April-May 2014. Most villagers already cleaned and prepared their upland for the next season cultivation.

Across Southern Shan State, inflated labour wages for poppy harvesting activities are adversely affecting availability of labour for other routine agricultural activities. Farmers fear that increased labour wages will persist even after the poppy harvest is completed.

In Northern Shan, migrations to China continue to be observed in almost all townships. Domestic migrations for casual labour from plain areas to Lashio town are also reported this month.