Exposure Visit for Bhutanese Stakeholders to Myanmar to Learn about Climate-Resilient Value Chain Development

Background 

The Himalica pilot project in Shan State, Myanmar, is focused on the development of climate resilient value chains for bamboo handicrafts, ginger, and vegetables from home gardens. Its thrust is to encourage small-holder farmers to shift from traditional subsistence agriculture to commercial agriculture by seizing new and emerging opportunities, learning about new technologies and practices, and creating market linkages for their products/produce as well as linkages with other farmers like themselves and value chain actors to learn from each other. The participating farmers are sensitised about the importance of environmental sustainability of value chains. They are adopting climate-resilient technologies and practices such as rainwater harvesting, bamboo pitcher irrigation for water management, zigzag method of cultivating ginger, and non-chemical methods for pest and disease management.  These improved methods are giving multiple benefits. There is increased productivity, reduced soil erosion and reduced risks due to enhanced adaptation to changing and varying climate and increased income.

Main objective 

• To contribute to the preparation of innovative 12th Five Year Plan of Tsirang district of Bhutan by facilitating regional knowledge and experience sharing on climate smart value chains and resilient livelihoods piloted by Himalica”

The Bhutanese participants – the District Administrator of Tsirang district; District sector officers working in the area of value chain and entrepreneurship; Policy and Planning representatives from the national level  – will visit the Himalica pilot sites in Shan state to see and learn about the piloted methods and processes for increasing farmers’ income and managing risks. They will also interact with bamboo, ginger and vegetable entrepreneurs and learn from their “stories of change”. They will learn about how the entrepreneurial skills were developed, how entrepreneurial farmers are managing risks related to production, weather, pests and diseases, and marketing and the roles and responsibilities of partners and various value chain actors in bringing about the desired change.

Expected outcomes

• Participants elaborate the lessons learned with respect to their relevance for the Bhutan context and create practical visions and innovative ideas for future implementation in their 12th Five Year Plans.
• Participants are motivated and have the background knowledge to improve existing and develop new concepts and approaches for climate resilient value chains and livelihoods.
• Participants establish contacts for future cooperation/information exchange.