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MINUTES OF THE DRY ZONE FOLLOW –UP
MEETING HELD
ON 15TH DECEMBER 2009 AT LOCAL RESOURCE
CENTER, YANGON
Introduction:
Following the discussions and
recommendations of the first coordination
workshop on drought -related issues in Dry
Zone, held in 25th September 2009, it was
decided that the follow- up actions should
focus on the results of the WFP-led
assessment, fundraising for
special
emergency funds if necessary (worst case
scenario) and exploration agencies
harmonization for submitting proposals to
LIFT.
In the initial stage, the participants
identified thirteen preliminary basic
indicators: rainfall pattern, crop yield and
loss (expected and previous), loss of on-
farm labor, number of acres cultivated
(present and previous), reducing livestock
assets and animal mortality, market
movements/ access, nutritional status
(malnutrition), access to water (drinking,
irrigation), water source (tube well),
capital for planting season, sale of
productive assets, food intake consumption,
level of migration
Present:
Roisin Devale, Hla Pe Than (Acted); Win Win
Myint (Action Aids); Fumika Vchiyama (AMDA);
Khin Aung (CCF); Apollo Arara (FAO); Regina
Feindr (GAA); Hla Min (Gret); Jared Hove
(IDE); Eva Vognilal (IMO); Mai Khin Than Yin
(MBC); Mra Sabai Nyun (Mercy Corps); Eva
Vognlid (MIMU); Myo Min Oo, Myat Min Thu,
Nyunt Hlaing (RMO); Lucas Cin Than Kham
(Oxfam); Aung Kyaw Thein (Pyo Pin/DFID); Su
Mon Htike (Swanyee); Emily Win (SDF); Sue
Mark, Isidro Navarro (Save the Children);
Nicola Michelon(TDH); Naw Paw Paw Wah (YKB);
Aye Aye Khaing (UNDP): Nan Sang Aye, Sarah
Gordon-Gibson (WFP); Dr. Ohnmar Khaing (FSWG)
The Agenda:
1) Agency presentations
2) Agreement on follow-up actions
Summary Points of the Agency Presentation:
1) WFP presentation: Preliminary finding on
Dry Zone assessment
º Not an emergency situation but food
insecurity is worse this year, mostly as a
result of lack of water
º Food insecurity has increased over the
second half of 2009
º Zone B: Poor Transportation & Poor Land
Access and Zone A: Good Transportation &
Poor Land Access can be treated as most
vulnerable
• WFP applied most basic indicators
discussed in previous meeting
• Sample population size: 650 Households,
most are 2 acres and under Magwe division
only, 7 townships covered in study, only
where WFP and its Implementing Partners are
working
• Mandalay and Sagaing Divisions could not
cover in the WFP assessment
• Chronic droughts, but this year was more
severe
• Negative impact on crop production
increased but no significance
• Migration: no significantly difference
• Food Consumption score:
|
Food consumption score |
% |
|
Poor |
20 |
|
Borderline |
44 |
|
Acceptable |
36 |
|
Total |
100 |
• It is not an emergency but there is
increased food insecurity, particularly in
the Zones A (Good Transportation and Poor
Land Condition) & B (Poor Transportation and
Poor Land Condition)
2) IDE presentation: Mostly southern Sagaing,
qualitative data from field staff
º Not emergency across the Dry Zone, but
there are pockets that can be considered an
emergency
• No rain in June/July but Sept/October
• The 2nd rain was not enough to remedy the
lost from the first rain
• Impact on crop production
o Main crop: sesame, mostly a monsoon crop
and suffered heavy lost
o Beans and pulses: 50% lost of monsoon crop
o Chili: 50% lost of monsoon crop
o Monsoon paddy: many didn’t grow because of
difficult conditions, i.e. more pests, lack
of water
• Except for green gram, there are dropping
crop prices
• Livestock: sold at a lost, livestock is a
major source of livelihoods for Dry Zone
• Migration: west towards Shan state,
increased since last year
• Water Supply: Government doing some water
distribution, but not enough; many people
are fetching water
• Ponds: are not in good condition for
household use, need to be re-dredged to rid
of sand an silt, to prepare for next rains
• Water delivery is needed: tankered trucks
for immediate, repair of ponds for later;
household-level rain –catchments; tube wells
can been built in alluvial soil with private
contractors, then these get pumped by
treddle pumps (ideal to do this during the
peak of the dry season, when water table is
lowest)
• IDE is planning for Magwe, Mandalay, and
parts of Sagaing to hire water trucks, do
loans for tube wells, and CFW to renovate
ponds
Follow up actions:
º FSWG will update Agency Operation and the
Dry Zone Coordination Matrix (see attached)
to help those agencies working or planning
to work there to coordinate by location and
by program themes; all agencies are asked to
complete matrix and send back to Dr. Ohnmar
Khaing by the 31st December, but early
submission of data is preferred.
º WFP will send out final report in about
10 days
º Collaborative effort by agencies is
needed to work on regular monitoring system
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