WorldFish and the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), under the patronage of H.E. Dr. Aung Thu, Myanmar’s Minister of Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation, will host the first Southeast Asia Rice-Fish Systems (RFS) Symposium: Optimizing Land and Water Use from 6–8 August 2018.
The symposium, in the capital Naypyitaw, will bring together around 150 policymakers, government technical staff, scientists, academics, I/NGOS and private sector representatives, providing an opportunity for diverse stakeholders across the agri-food sector in Myanmar, Southeast Asia and around the world to exchange expertise.
The goal of the symposium is to build on rice-fish systems (RFS) experience from the region for optimizing integrated food production systems and nutritional benefits. Its objective is to provide decision-makers of land and water use reform with nutritionally focused RFS information to facilitate the ongoing reform process in Myanmar and elsewhere in the region.
Michael Akester, Country Director, WorldFish Myanmar: “The potential for agricultural development in Myanmar is considerable, and the sector provides an opportunity to build inclusive economic growth and contribute to poverty reduction.”
However, as in other countries, the sector in Myanmar is facing challenges. Among the issues to be discussed are:
- the role of RFS in achieving food and nutrition security in a socially equitable manner;
- the role of intersectoral spatial land use planning in the development of the water and food sectors;
- the land use tenure and policy landscape;
- the growing role played by integrated farming systems, including rice-fish in providing livelihood opportunities for the poor in developing countries.
The event, held under the auspices of the CGIAR Research Programs onFISH and RICE, is sponsored by the ACIAR-funded project Development of Rice Fish Systems (RFS) in the Ayeyarwady Delta, Myanmar . The main project partner is the Ministry of Agriculture Livestock and Irrigation (MoALI) and its Departments of Fisheries, Agriculture and Agriculture Research.
The five-year project (2017–2021) is being implemented by two CGIAR centers, WorldFish and IRRI, in close liaison with a third, the International Water Management Institute (IWMI).
Keynote speakers—including Dr. Mike Phillips (WorldFish), Dr. Grant Singleton (IRRI) and Dr. Ann Fleming (ACIAR)—will share their experience and discuss the latest developments in the sector.
The accepted abstracts and research presentations will be published after the event as symposium proceedings.
WorldFish photography from Myanmar
For more information or to request an interview, contact:
Michael Akester, Country Director, WorldFish Myanmar M.Akester@cgiar.org
Web: worldfishcenter.org / fish.cgiar.org
Photography: flickr.com/photos/theworldfishcenter
About WorldFish
WorldFish is an international, nonprofit research organization that harnesses the potential of fisheries and aquaculture to reduce hunger and poverty. Globally, more than 1 billion poor people obtain most of their animal protein from fish and 800 million depend on fisheries and aquaculture for their livelihoods. WorldFish is a member of CGIAR, a global research partnership for a food-secure future.
About FISH
Pursuing a research agenda through a network of multistakeholder partners, the CGIAR Research Program on Fish Agri-Food Systems (FISH) enhances the contributions of fisheries and aquaculture to reducing poverty and improving food security and nutrition. FISH brings together a unique set of multistakeholder partnerships to harness emerging science in aquaculture and fisheries to deliver development outcomes at scale. FISH is led by WorldFish, together with the Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence in Coral Reef Studies at James Cook University; the International Water Management Institute ; Natural Resources Institute at the University of Greenwich, UK and Wageningen University & Research, The Netherlands . In regional contexts, the program partners closely with governments, NGOs, the private sector and research organizations to influence national, regional and global policy and development practice.
About the International Rice Research Institute
The International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) is the world’s premier research organization dedicated to reducing poverty and hunger through rice science; improving the health and welfare of rice farmers and consumers; and protecting the rice-growing environment for future generations. IRRI is an independent, nonprofit, research and educational institute, founded in 1960 by the Ford and Rockefeller foundations with support from the Philippine government. The institute, headquartered in Los Baños, Philippines, has offices in 17 rice-growing countries in Asia and Africa, and over 1000 staff. Working with in-country partners, IRRI develops advanced rice varieties that yield more grain and better withstand pests and disease as well as flooding, drought and other harmful effects of climate change.
About RICE
The CGIAR Research Program on Rice (RICE) is a forward-looking, holistic, global partnership that focuses on the win-win proposition of the social, economic, and environmental sustainability aspects of rice. RICE fosters impact-driven rice research and development to reduce poverty and hunger, improve human health and nutrition, promote gender equity, and enhance ecosystem resilience in rice production systems. It harnesses 600 research and development partners from both the public and private sector to deliver measurable impacts on the overall goals of CGIAR.
About CGIAR
CGIAR is a global research partnership for a food-secure future. Its science is carried out by the 15 research Centers that are members of the CGIAR Consortium in collaboration with hundreds of partners.