Value chain governance and institutions behind biosecurity along pig value chains in Myanmar

PAPER REMOVED AT THE REQUEST OF AUTHOR, PENDING REQUIRED APPROVAL FROM MYANMAR MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE. This study contributes to understanding what challenges and opportunities exist in making livestock production more profitable and safer. In particular, consumption of pork in Southeast Asia is increasing in response to rapid urbanization and growing average household income. In order to improve lives of pig farmers while minimizing negative effects of increased pig production, we investigate factors influencing application of biosecurity measures along pig value chains in Myanmar. Based on qualitative research methods, we analyze how the value chains are governed and what institutional arrangements influence biosecurity. We find that value chain transactions are largely governed by market and show little vertical coordination. This indicates that value chain actors do not currently invest in biosecurity in a sufficient manner. Lack of access to low-interest loan encourages farmers to undertake risky behaviors while lack of cash discourages value chain stakeholders to invest in biosecurity. On the other hand, key actors such as large-scale pig farmers informally impose biosecurity measures to pig buyers while informal arrangements to ensure food safety is found to encourage increased biosecurity. Public policies may exploit these existing institutions to improve chain-wide biosecurity. Acknowledgement : This paper was developed based on funding under the Zoonoses and Emerging Livestock Systems (ZELS) scheme by the Department for International Development (DFID) of the United Kingdom. The authors are thankful for the support provided by the Livestock Breeding and Veterinary Department of the Government of Myanmar, Myanmar Oxford Clinical Research Unit, Oxford University Clinical Research Unit in Ho Chi Minh City, and the University of Cambridge in conducting the field work in Myanmar.