IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jlands/v8y2019i2p29-d203243.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

What Awaits Myanmar’s Uplands Farmers? Lessons Learned from Mainland Southeast Asia

Author

Listed:
  • Martin Rudbeck Jepsen

    (Section for Geography, Department of Geosciences and Natural Resource management, University of Copenhagen, DK-1350 Copenhagen K, Denmark)

  • Matilda Palm

    (Department of Space, Earth and Environment, Physical Resource Theory, Chalmers University of technology, SE-412 96 Gothenburg, Sweden)

  • Thilde Bech Bruun

    (Section for Geography, Department of Geosciences and Natural Resource management, University of Copenhagen, DK-1350 Copenhagen K, Denmark)

Abstract

Mainland Southeast Asia (MSA) has seen sweeping upland land use changes in the past decades, with transition from primarily subsistence shifting cultivation to annual commodity cropping. This transition holds implications for local upland communities and ecosystems. Due to its particular political regime, Myanmar is at the tail of this development. However, with Myanmar’s official strategy of agricultural commercialization and intensification, recent liberalization of the national economy, and influx of multinational agricultural companies, the effects on upland land transitions could come fast. We analyze the current state of upland land use in Myanmar in a socio-economic and political context, identify the dynamics in three indicator commodity crops (maize, cassava, and rubber), and discuss the state driven economic, tenurial and policy reforms that have occurred in upland areas of mainland Southeast Asian countries in past decades. We draw on these insights to contextualize our study and hypothesize about possible transition pathways for Myanmar. The transition to annual commodity cropping is generally driven by a range of socio-economic and technical factors. We find that land use dynamics for the three indicator crops are associated with market demand and thus the opening of national Southeast-Asian economies, research and development of locally suitable high yielding varieties (HYVs), and subsidies for the promotion of seeds and inputs. In contrast, promotion of HYVs in marginal areas and without adequate agricultural extension services may results in agricultural contraction and yield dis-intensification. The environmental impacts of the transition depend on the transition pathway, e.g., through large-scale plantation projects or smallholder initiatives. The agricultural development in upland MSA follows a clear diffusion pattern with transition occurring first in Thailand, spreading to Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos. While these countries point to prospects for Myanmar, we hypothesize that changes will come slow due to Myanmar’s sparse rural infrastructure, with uncertainty about tenure, in particular in areas still troubled by armed conflicts, and unwillingness of international investors to approach Myanmar given the recent setbacks to the democratization process.

Suggested Citation

  • Martin Rudbeck Jepsen & Matilda Palm & Thilde Bech Bruun, 2019. "What Awaits Myanmar’s Uplands Farmers? Lessons Learned from Mainland Southeast Asia," Land, MDPI, vol. 8(2), pages 1-23, February.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jlands:v:8:y:2019:i:2:p:29-:d:203243
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/8/2/29/pdf
    Download Restriction: no

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/8/2/29/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Laura Kmoch & Matilda Palm & U. Martin Persson & Martin Rudbeck Jepsen, 2018. "Upland Livelihoods between Local Land and Global Labour Market Dependencies: Evidence from Northern Chin State, Myanmar," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(10), pages 1-27, October.
    2. van Asselt, Joanna & Htoo, Kyan & Dorosh, Paul, 2016. "Prospects For The Myanmar Rubber Sector: An Analysis Of The Viability Of Smallholder Production In Mon State," Feed the Future Innovation Lab for Food Security Policy Research Papers 259518, Michigan State University, Department of Agricultural, Food, and Resource Economics, Feed the Future Innovation Lab for Food Security (FSP).
    3. Lara M. Lundsgaard-Hansen & Flurina Schneider & Julie G. Zaehringer & Christoph Oberlack & Win Myint & Peter Messerli, 2018. "Whose Agency Counts in Land Use Decision-Making in Myanmar? A Comparative Analysis of Three Cases in Tanintharyi Region," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(10), pages 1-30, October.
    4. Sokty Chhair & Luyna Ung, 2013. "Economic History of Industrialization in Cambodia," WIDER Working Paper Series wp-2013-134, World Institute for Development Economic Research (UNU-WIDER).
    5. Laura Vang Rasmussen & Brendan Coolsaet & Adrian Martin & Ole Mertz & Unai Pascual & Esteve Corbera & Neil Dawson & Janet A. Fisher & Phil Franks & Casey M. Ryan, 2018. "Social-ecological outcomes of agricultural intensification," Nature Sustainability, Nature, vol. 1(6), pages 275-282, June.
    6. Derek Byerlee, 2014. "The Fall and Rise Again of Plantations in Tropical Asia: History Repeated?," Land, MDPI, vol. 3(3), pages 1-24, June.
    7. Ha, Dang Thanh & Thao, Tran Dinh & Khiem, Nguyen Tri & Trieu, Mai Xuan & Gerpacio, Roberta V. & Pingali, Prabhu L., 2004. "Maize in Vietnam: Production Systems, Constraints, and Research Priorities," Maize Production Systems Papers 7651, CIMMYT: International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center.
    8. Biggs, Stephen & Justice, Scott, 2015. "Rural and agricultural mechanization: A history of the spread of small engines in selected asian countries:," IFPRI discussion papers 1443, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI).
    9. Ekasingh, Benchaphun & Gypmantasiri, Phrek & Thong-Ngam, Kuson & Grudloyma, Pichet, 2004. "Maize in Thailand: Production Systems, Constraints, and Research Priorities," Maize Production Systems Papers 7649, CIMMYT: International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center.
    10. Byron, Neil & Arnold, Michael, 1999. "What Futures for the People of the Tropical Forests?," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 27(5), pages 789-805, May.
    11. Wunder, Sven, 2001. "Poverty Alleviation and Tropical Forests--What Scope for Synergies?," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 29(11), pages 1817-1833, November.
    12. Swastika, Dewa K.S. & Kasim, Firdaus & Sudana, Wayan & Hendayana, Rachmat & Suhariyanto, Kecuk & Gerpacio, Roberta V. & Pingali, Prabhu L., 2004. "Maize in Indonesia: Production Systems, Constraints, and Research Priorities," Maize Production Systems Papers 7647, CIMMYT: International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center.
    13. Soe, Tin, 2004. "Myanmar in Economic Transition : Constraints and Related Issues Affecting the Agriculture Sector," Asian Journal of Agriculture and Development, Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA), vol. 1(2), pages 1-12, December.
    14. Engvall, Anders & Kokko, Ari, 2007. "Poverty And Land Policy In Cambodia," EIJS Working Paper Series 233, Stockholm School of Economics, The European Institute of Japanese Studies.
    15. Tin Soe, 2004. "Myanmar in Economic Transition: Constraints and Related Issues Affecting the Agriculture Sector," Asian Journal of Agriculture and Development, Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA), vol. 1(2), pages 57-68, December.
    16. Chhair, Sokty & Ung, Luyna, 2013. "Economic History of Industrialization in Cambodia," WIDER Working Paper Series 134, World Institute for Development Economic Research (UNU-WIDER).
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Duncan, Nicolette & de Silva, Sanjiv & Conallin, John & Freed, Sarah & Akester, Michael & Baumgartner, Lee & McCartney, Matthew & Dubois, Mark & Senaratna Sellamuttu, Sonali, 2021. "Fish for whom?: Integrating the management of social complexities into technical investments for inclusive, multi-functional irrigation," World Development Perspectives, Elsevier, vol. 22(C).
    2. Duyen, Tran Nhat Lam & Tien, Nguyen Dinh & Ngoc, Nong Nguyen Khanh & Thuy, Pham Thu & Tich, Vu Van, 2022. "Determinants of swidden communities’ land-use decision-making for different crops in Son La and Nghe An provinces, Vietnam," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 119(C).
    3. Pravalprukskul, Pin & Bruun, Thilde Bech & Messerli, Peter, 2023. "Maize boom, bust and beyond: Investigating land use transitions in the northern Thai uplands," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 132(C).
    4. Enze Han & Qiongyu Huang, 2021. "Global Commodity Markets, Chinese Demand for Maize, and Deforestation in Northern Myanmar," Land, MDPI, vol. 10(11), pages 1-18, November.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Keil, Alwin & Saint-Macary, Camille & Zeller, Manfred, 2013. "Intensive Commercial Agriculture in Fragile Uplands of Vietnam: How to Harness its Poverty Reduction Potential while Ensuring Environmental Sustainability?," Quarterly Journal of International Agriculture, Humboldt-Universitaat zu Berlin, vol. 52(1), pages 1-25, February.
    2. Porro, Roberto & Lopez-Feldman, Alejandro & Vela-Alvarado, Jorge W., 2015. "Forest use and agriculture in Ucayali, Peru: Livelihood strategies, poverty and wealth in an Amazon frontier," Forest Policy and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 51(C), pages 47-56.
    3. Keil, Alwin & Nielsen, Thea, 2012. "Accounting for farmers’ risk preferences in investigating land allocation decisions in marginal environments: a test of various elicitation measures in an application from Vietnam," 2012 Conference, August 18-24, 2012, Foz do Iguacu, Brazil 126054, International Association of Agricultural Economists.
    4. Takeshima, Hiroyuki & Adesugba, Margaret Abiodun, 2014. "Irrigation potential in Nigeria: Some perspectives based on factor endowments, tropical nature, and patterns in favorable areas:," IFPRI discussion papers 1399, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI).
    5. Bir Chhetri & Helle Larsen & Carsten Smith-Hall, 2015. "Environmental resources reduce income inequality and the prevalence, depth and severity of poverty in rural Nepal," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 17(3), pages 513-530, June.
    6. Illukpitiya, Prabodh & Yanagida, John F., 2010. "Farming vs forests: Trade-off between agriculture and the extraction of non-timber forest products," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 69(10), pages 1952-1963, August.
    7. Koji Kubo, 2013. "Rice Yield Gap between Myanmar and Vietnam: A Matter of Price Policy or Public Investment in Technology?," Asian Journal of Agriculture and Development, Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA), vol. 10(1), pages 1-24, June.
    8. Shackleton, Charlie M. & Shackleton, Sheona E. & Buiten, Erik & Bird, Neil, 2007. "The importance of dry woodlands and forests in rural livelihoods and poverty alleviation in South Africa," Forest Policy and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 9(5), pages 558-577, January.
    9. Yoshito Takasaki, 2011. "Economic models of shifting cultivation: a review," Tsukuba Economics Working Papers 2011-006, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Tsukuba.
    10. Nguyen Hieu Phuong & Nguyen Quang Thieu & Brian Ogle & Hans Pettersson, 2015. "Aflatoxins, Fumonisins and Zearalenone Contamination of Maize in the Southeastern and Central Highlands Provinces of Vietnam," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 5(4), pages 1-9, December.
    11. Yoshito Takasaki & Oliver T. Coomes & Christian Abizaid & Stéphanie Brisson, 2014. "An Efficient Nonmarket Institution under Imperfect Markets: Labor Sharing for Tropical Forest Clearing," American Journal of Agricultural Economics, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association, vol. 96(3), pages 711-732.
    12. Luckmann, Jonas & Ihle, Rico & Grethe, Harald & Kleinwechter, Ulrich, 2011. "Can Vietnamese Upland Farmers Profit from High World Market Prices? A Price Transmission Analysis," 2011 International Congress, August 30-September 2, 2011, Zurich, Switzerland 114376, European Association of Agricultural Economists.
    13. Tumusiime, David Mwesigye & Vedeld, Paul & Gombya-Ssembajjwe, William, 2011. "Breaking the law? Illegal livelihoods from a Protected Area in Uganda," Forest Policy and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 13(4), pages 273-283, April.
    14. Mirja Kattelus & Muhammad Mizanur Rahaman & Olli Varis, 2014. "Myanmar under reform: Emerging pressures on water, energy and food security," Natural Resources Forum, Blackwell Publishing, vol. 38(2), pages 85-98, May.
    15. Mamo, Getachew & Sjaastad, Espen & Vedeld, Pal, 2007. "Economic dependence on forest resources: A case from Dendi District, Ethiopia," Forest Policy and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 9(8), pages 916-927, May.
    16. Kamanga, Penjani & Vedeld, Paul & Sjaastad, Espen, 2009. "Forest incomes and rural livelihoods in Chiradzulu District, Malawi," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 68(3), pages 613-624, January.
    17. Sunderlin, William D. & Angelsen, Arild & Belcher, Brian & Burgers, Paul & Nasi, Robert & Santoso, Levania & Wunder, Sven, 2005. "Livelihoods, forests, and conservation in developing countries: An Overview," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 33(9), pages 1383-1402, September.
    18. Keil, Alwin & Saint-Macary, Camille & Zeller, Manfred, 2011. "Agricultural Commercialization in the Uplands of Northern Vietnam: How to Achieve Both Poverty Reduction and Environmental Sustainability Goals?," 51st Annual Conference, Halle, Germany, September 28-30, 2011 114487, German Association of Agricultural Economists (GEWISOLA).
    19. Rammohan, Anu & Pritchard, Bill, 2014. "The Role of Landholding as a Determinant of Food and Nutrition Insecurity in Rural Myanmar," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 64(C), pages 597-608.
    20. Smajgl, Alex & Bohensky, Erin, 2012. "When households stop logging — Evidence for household adaptation from East Kalimantan," Forest Policy and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 20(C), pages 58-65.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jlands:v:8:y:2019:i:2:p:29-:d:203243. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.