Emergency Rehabilitation and Coordination Unit

Volume 2, Issue 2

Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations

Newsletter

IMPROVED BUILDING TECHNIQUES MAKE DURABLE FAO BOATS POPULAR AMONG DELTA COMMUNITIES
As U Nyunt Lwin steered his fishing boat into the creek the wind was transcending. He waved as he overtook a number of slower home-bound fishing boats already in the creek. I know they all envy my boat. Its faster and much sturdier than theirs . We thank FAO for giving us such a fine boat, said U Nyunt Lwin. A native of Armakhan village in the southern part of Bogale Township, U Nyunt Lwin had lost his 20 foot boat in Cyclone Nargis but he received an FAO-built boat in early December 2009 through local NGO Ever Green Group (EGG). Cyclone Nargis destroyed more than 200,000 inland multi-purpose boats, one of the primary livelihood assets in the Delta. Boats are not only used for fishing but also for accessing markets, services and livelihood opportunities outside a households immediate area. Since early 2009, FAO has distributed 278 boats in Bogale, Kunyangon and Labutta not only through EGG but also through Samaritans Purse, UNDP, Mingalar Myanmar, Relief International, GRET, Mercy Corps, and ACTED. Four hundred more new boats will be distributed in Bogale and Labutta in May 2010 through Social Vision Services, Mingalar Myanmar, Relief International, EGG the Border Area Development Association and Samaritans Purse. The boatSwedish master boat builder teamed up to produce a novel multi-purpose boat design based on existing Delta boat models but incorporating improved building techniques to make the boats more durable. The improved boat building techniques were designed to maximize local expertise and make the best use of available raw materials. A locally available hardwood, Thingan, was used. Improvements to existing boat designs included the introduction of galvanized bolts to prevent corrosion and prolong the life of the boat. Improvements in the seasoning and selection of wood also helped improve boat durability. FAO-ERCU contracted local boat builders in Bogale, Kunyangon, and Labutta to build these boats. By the end of May, FAOERCU and local boat builders will have completed and distributed a total of 678 multipurpose boats varying in length building programme has been between 12 feet to 18 feet to funded by the Swedish Inter- vulnerable families in the Delta. national Development Agency. From their first appearance, To assist the recovery and the FAO boats won much high rehabilitation process the FAO- praise. Beneficiaries have apERCU began a boat building preciated the new boat conprogram in December 2008. struction techniques and better Continued on page 4 A British naval architect and a

The FAO boat has been really a godsend to me!

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Emergency Rehabilitation and Coordination Unit

Animal Banking Multiples Livestock Ownership in Delta

FAO livestock banking partner AAR Japan distributes ducks to beneficiaries in Labutta

To replace the nearly quarter of a million livestock that perished during Cyclone Nargis, the Emergency and Rehabilitation Coordination Unit of FAO (FAO-ERCU) began livestock distribution in June 2008. Coordinating with local and international NGOs as well as government agencies. To date a total of 2,626 buffaloes, 2,100 piglets, 25,000 chickens and 75,000 ducks have been distributed to beneficiaries in Kungyangon, Pyapon, Ngapudaw, Mawlamyinegyun, Dedaye, Bogale, Dedaye, Kyaiklat and Labutta townships. Completely replacing the lost livestock will take many years, however. To speed up the process, FAO-ERCU introduced an animal banking scheme in 2009 funded by the Japanese Government. The scheme aims to help households achieve food security and generate income. The livestock banking scheme also helps develop community cohesiveness and strengthens social bonds among the members of the group. FAO coordinated with a total of 14 organizations that

included international and local NGOs and the Livestock Breeding and Veterinary Cooperative Limited (LBVCL). The banking program is simple and easy to manage. Each village community forms a livestock banking committee (LBC). The LBC includes vulnerable families in village and groups them into primary, secondary and tertiary beneficiaries. FAOERCU and the implementing partners distribute buffalos, piglets and poultry through the LBCs to the first beneficiaries. When the livestock given to the initial beneficiary gives birth, offsprings are transferred by the LBC to a second beneficiary, and the process would continue till all beneficiaries in the group receive livestock. Cash in lieu of the offspring is also accepted. The aim is to increase productivity and access to draught animals, pigs and poultry of cyclone affected families in Delta by spreading livestock ownership. The banking scheme is a common practice for Myanmar rural communities. It suits our culture, in which people help

each other in time of need. In my opinion, its one of most effective poverty reduction strategies. Dr. Yan Naing Soe, a national livestock consultant for the FAO-ERCU, said. Villagers like U Htun Htun of Na Tha Gone Village, Kone Gyi Village Tract, in Labutta Township were appreciative. I received a pair of buffalos male and female. As I was the first beneficiary in our Livestock Banking Committee I received them in May 2009. We learned that FAO donated them through the LBVCL. We can not thank FAO enough, said U Htun Htun, a farmer with a family of three to support. During Nargis, the household had lost its buffalo. The timing was such that all went well for the monsoon paddy. Before, I had to hire buffalos to prepare the land. Now its alright! U Htun Htun had already thought about how he would deal with the offspring from his new buffalo. I will transfer it to the LBC. The next beneficiary family would receive it. Its a good practice.

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DLRWG Experience Sharing Offers Wealth of Lessons

Through June, the PONREPP Recovery Coordination Center (RCC) is supporting the Delta Livelihood Recovery Working Group (DLRWG) in organizing a series of experience-sharing workshops focusing on livelihood recovery in the Delta. The objective of the workshop series is to facilitate exchange of the rich and diverse experiences and knowledge that organizations have gained through the implementation of their Delta projects and to arrive at a series of clear recommendations for future programming. Via the DLRWG structure, a Workshop Organizing Committee was set up that included members from FAO, RCC, Pact and Relief International. After surveying the members of the DLRWG on the issues members felt that they a) wanted to learn more on or b) could lead workshops on, the committee planned a series of workshops to be completed in time to use the lessons learned during the monsoon project implementation period. After debating ways to most effectively structure the exerpeicne sharing workshops, the committee decided to invite only those organizations that submitted lessons learned which could be shared. In this way maximum results would be achieved in a given timeframe on a specific topic. The first workshop focused on Agriculture and Livestock sectors. A total of 13 organizations contributed their experiences and 33 representatives from nine organizations participated in the workshop. The second workshop on the Mechanization and the Shared Use of Assets was attended by 18 representatives from nine organizations while 11 organizations contributed. To facilitate maximum attention by participants, each of the subjects was discussed in a separate session. Participants brainstormed specific topics, and discussions were lively and informative. Each session resulted in agreement on key lessons learned linked to nity Development Association. Designed to help recover and improve livelihood opportunities for the most vulnerable landless households and small farmers, the consortium will implement the project in 16 village tracts in Labutta, Bogale and Pyapon townships. Outputs from the project include the restoration of the capacity in landless and vulnerable practical recommendations. Recommendations for the brainstormed subjects ranged from the increasing need to provide a satisfactory response to specific farmers needs in inputs and support, more grass root level self supporting groups, to the effect of weather and climatic conditions in implementing the programs. The next workshop is planned for 7 May 2010 and will cover Financing Livelihoods and Post Harvest & Value addition. The final workshop will take place on 4 June 2010 and will address Fisheries; and Other Livelihood issues. Organisations interested in submitting lessons learned on any of these topics, and participating in the relevant session, should contact Apollo.Arara@fao.org Once the four workshops have been completed, the RCC will publish the proceedings in a single document that will be of use to all organizations involved in future livelihood recovery efforts in the Delta.

LIFT Takes Off

A consortium led by FAO has been awarded $1 042 499 by the multi-donor Livelihoods and Food Security Trust Fund (LIFT) to implement its Recovery of Livelihood Opportunities in the Ayeyarwaddy Delta (RELOAD) project. Consortium members include Metta Development Foundation, Lokha Ahlin, Ever Green Group and Commuhouseholds to diversify and sustain food production-based livelihoods, the enhancement and restoration of capacity for small farmers, and the strengthening of technical capability in organizations participating in or developing strategies addressing Delta livelihood recovery activities. Activities include trainings and the distribution of crop, livestock and fisheries inputs.

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quality. U Maung Myint from Kathitkone village in Kunchangon Township was one of the early boat beneficiaries. A fisherman with no boat after Nargis, he received an FAO-ERCU multipurpose boat in February 2009. The boat we received is 12 feet long. Its 3 feet shorter than my previous boat but I found it useful. Having a boat means a lot to me. Before, I had to hire my brothers boat. He only charged me 2,000 kyats per month; from others I would have had to pay three times that amount and I would have struggled to pay the rental fees. After Nargis life was very hard. Earnings dropped dramatically while we had to start from scratch again.The FAO boat has been really a godsend to me! Before Nargis, U Maung
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Emergency Rehabilitation and Coordination Unit

Myint was a nightly fisherman outside of paddy season. The all night long fishing sessions would bring him 1,500 and 5,000 kyats per day. The FAO boat was essential to restoring his former livelihood. Another long term benefit of the boat building program has been that many local boat builders have become acquainted with the new techniques. The boat builders contracted by FAO demonstrated their new techniques to any other boat builders who wanted to learn them, including boat builders working for NGOs.

FAOs Emergency and Rehabilitation Programme is made possible thanks to generous funding from the following donors:

For More Information:

Mr. Tesfai Ghermazien

Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations

Senior Emergency Rehabilitation Coordinator FAO Representation in Myanmar Seed Division Compound (Myanma Agriculture Service) Insein Road,Yangon, Myanmar (P.O. Box 101) Phone: +95-9-8602348 Fax: +95-1-641561 E-mail:Tesfai.Ghermazien@fao.org

Were on the Web! http://www.fao.org/emergenies