Agricultural extension services and household food security of women rice farmers in the Ayeyarwady region of Myanmar

Authors

Yi Mon Thu, Department of Agricultural Extension, Yezin Agricultural University, Yezin, MyanFollow
Rowena DT. Baconguis, College of Public Affairs and Development, University of Philippines Los Banos (UPLB), Laguna, Philippines
Myra E. David, College of Public Affairs and Development, University of Philippines Los Banos (UPLB), Laguna, Philippines
Merlyne M. Paunlagui, College of Public Affairs and Development, University of Philippines Los Banos (UPLB), Laguna, Philippines
Pompe C. Sta. Cruz, College of Agriculture and Food Science, University of Philippines Los Banos (UPLB), Laguna, Philippines

Abstract

The study aimed to analyze women's households' farming practices towards household food security, particularly in six villages of the Ayeyarwady region. Data were collected from 126 randomized respondents. Findings show that the respondents are respondents who had a mean age of 45 years, married, natives of the study sites, and have attended primary education with an average of four family members. The government is the primary agency that provides training programs, mostly in rice production. They have access to extension worker visitation in which the most common topic discussed is pest management. Less than a fourth of the respondents are members of farmer organizations. Most respondents keep only 1 to 2 kinds of food, boiled their food, had poor dietary adequacy level and suffer from moderate to severe hunger at one point in time. Non-parametric Spearman's rank correlation coefficient was used to determine the degree of association for extension services and household food security. Non-farm income is significantly associated with food access and vegetable training program is significantly associated with all food security dimensions while livestock raising, and rice production are significantly associated with three food security dimensions. Membership in farmer organizations is significantly associated with all dimensions of food security. The extension system can focus its investments on vegetable training programs, livestock raising and rice production, strengthening farm organizations and diversifying non-farm income sources.

Recommended Citation

Thu, Yi Mon; Baconguis, Rowena DT.; David, Myra E.; Paunlagui, Merlyne M.; and Sta. Cruz, Pompe C. (2023) "Agricultural extension services and household food security of women rice farmers in the Ayeyarwady region of Myanmar," Journal of Public Affairs and Development: Vol. 10: No. 1, Article 5.
Available at: https://www.ukdr.uplb.edu.ph/jpad/vol10/iss1/5