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Jon Keesecker
December 8, 2021 – In the first week of November, the Market Analysis Unit (MAU) conducted telephone interviews with farmers in southeastern Myanmar to better understand market access and the 2021 rice season. The data is based on a sample of 69 Mercy Corps program participants, who are primarily located in the townships Demoso, Hpruso and Pekon. MAU reports are available online at www.themimu.info/market-analysis-unit.
Key highlights
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Most respondents spent savings and reduced non-food consumption in October amid persistent disruptions in markets and livelihoods;
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Armed conflict and COVID-19 were barriers to consumer product purchases in October, and concerns about market access seemed more important than concerns about access to cash;
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Only 45% of those surveyed traveled outside their village to buy goods in October;
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At least 20% of respondents had great difficulty finding many goods, with edible oils, non-food items and especially medicines being the most difficult;
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Food insecurity indicators are worrying, but less than expected given the difficulties in accessing the market;
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Half of all respondents reduced the area under cultivation this year and most report higher input prices.
background
Instability from armed conflict and the COVID-19 pandemic persisted in northern Kayah state and neighboring southern Shan state in October and November. The region has been grappling with conflict and COVID-19 for months, and the clashes have spread further down the Loikaw-Bawlakhe highway. While tensions continued in Pekon parish, clashes have intensified further south in Demoso, Hpruso and Bawlakhe parishes. In November, UNHCR reported 10,000 newly displaced persons in the community of Pekon and more than 85,000 displaced persons in total in Kayah state.1 These challenges – along with those of the COVID-19 pandemic – continue to affect the transportation and availability of goods in the area.
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