2016年-世界发展银行全球_Growing_Together___Reducing_Rural_Poverty_in_Myanmar_16页_1mb

GROWING TOGETHER: Reducing Rural Poverty in Myanmar

Core Content

This policy note focuses on reducing rural poverty in Myanmar through inclusive growth strategies that promote agricultural productivity, improve access to essential services, and build systems for effective resource targeting. It highlights the role of rural communities in Myanmar's economy and the challenges they face, such as low agricultural productivity, limited access to social and economic services, and insecure land tenure. The document also draws lessons from the experiences of neighboring countries like Vietnam, Indonesia, Cambodia, and Thailand to inform policy options.

Main Points

Rural Poverty and Economic Challenges

• Rural communities house the majority of Myanmar's population and poor.
• Agriculture is the backbone of rural livelihoods, yet it suffers from low productivity and profitability.
• Land tenure insecurity hinders investment and the adoption of modern farming techniques.
• Limited access to essential services (electricity, clean water, roads) exacerbates rural isolation and poverty.

Recent Developments

• Since 2011, agricultural liberalization has stimulated growth, with no large subsidies or price distortions.
• Agricultural growth increased from 1.7% in 2012–2013 to 5.6% in 2014–2015.
• Fiscal decentralization has been introduced to transfer spending responsibilities to States and Regions.
• The National Community-Driven Development Program (NCDDP) has shown early success in poverty reduction through community participation in planning and implementation.

Regional Lessons

• Vietnam reduced rural poverty through land reforms, improved access to education and health, and targeted investments in infrastructure and services.
• Indonesia used community-driven development (CDD) to improve service delivery and resilience, especially in remote areas.
• Cambodia increased rice exports through trade liberalization and private sector engagement.
• Thailand demonstrated the importance of public investment in seeds and extension services, but also the risks of price support policies that can be costly and unsustainable.

Key Information

Agricultural Productivity

• Low yields of paddy and other crops are a major constraint on rural growth.
• Modern technologies and quality seeds are underutilized due to lack of knowledge and investment.
• Private sector is constrained by unclear regulations, weak IP protection, and limited public services.

Land Reform

• Secure land tenure is essential for encouraging investment and improving productivity.
• Land user right certificates are often contested, especially in conflict-affected areas.
• A land reform policy is needed to improve land tenure security and support sustainable development.

Access to Services

• Only 12% of roads are paved, and 84% of the rural population lacks access to electricity.
• 37% of farmers and 10% of farm workers have access to formal credit.
• Fiscal decentralization and community-driven development can improve local service delivery and accountability.

Policy Options

Conclusion

The path to reducing rural poverty in Myanmar requires a multifaceted approach that includes enhancing agricultural productivity, improving access to essential services, and building robust systems for resource allocation. Drawing on regional experiences, the policy note emphasizes the importance of fiscal decentralization, community participation, and market-oriented reforms. These efforts must be coordinated and transparent to ensure that rural communities benefit from national development and grow together with the rest of the population.