According to FAO nearly US$33.5 million funds is needed to help revive Myanmar agriculture after it was devastated by a cyclone. It is said that special attention will be paid to the aquaculture industry. The cyclone has devastating impact and more than 100 000 fishers have been affected, with significant losses of boats and fishing gear and more than 21 000 hectares of aquaculture ponds destroyed. Fish and rice constitute the key components of the Myanmar diet.
The FAO says that overall needs for relief and recovery activities in farming, fisheries, aquaculture and forestry over the next 12 months total US$51 million under the revised appeal for Cyclone Nargis response for Myanmar launched last week, which called for a total of US$303 million for all sectors including agriculture. Anne M. Bauer, Director, FAO Emergency Operations and Rehabilitation Division, informed that with a reduced rice harvest unlikely to meet the needs of the affected population, food security will depend on providing support to farming households in alternative crop strategies and rapidly restoring livestock-, fisheries-, aquaculture- and forestry-based livelihoods.
FAO established an Emergency and Rehabilitation Coordination Unit in Myanmar soon after the cyclone and is working for recovery programme. As per the assessment done by the FAO identified emergency and rehabilitation needs for farming, livestock, fisheries and aquaculture, forestry and coordination.
