11:15 AM - 11:30 AM
[HGG01-08] Livelihood Strategies and Land Utilization of Peasant Farmers in Mountainous Areas: Implication for the Environment of Inle Lake in Myanmar
★Invited Papers
Keywords:land utilization, livelihood, sedimentation, environment degradation
Environmental degradation of Inle Lake and its surrounding areas, located in Shan State in eastern Myanmar, has been a serious concern for the government, local residents, and other stakeholders (MOECF 2014). Environmental degradation includes deterioration of water quality (Yuasa 2021), shrinkage of the open water surface (Sidle et al. 2007), and eutrophication. The causes are complex and interrelated with one another, but environmental degradation mostly arises from population increase and subsequent intensification of people’s livelihood activities.
In addition, the inflow of sediment from the surrounding mountainous areas is a major cause of the degradation of Inle Lake (Furuichi 2007). The sediment inflow is primarily attributed to deforestation caused by expansion of agricultural land utilization and collection of firewood for daily usage. The demand for firewood for daily usage shows a decreasing trend with the increase of electrification in the area. On the contrary, forest degradation caused by agricultural production remains alarming. Therefore, in order to slow down the speed of sediment inflow, it is critical to understand the current status of people’s agricultural land utilization as part of their livelihood in the source of sediments area.
This study focuses on the land utilization pattern of peasant farmers in the mountainous area located above the west bank of Inle Lake, where the influx of sediment is significant. A household survey was conducted in a village in 2019 to collect data of their livelihood status, focusing on their land utilization, agricultural production, and income.
The major findings were as follows:
1. The land that the farmers use for cultivation is officially categorized as “reserved forest.” However, the farmers regard the land as “ancestral land” and use it under their customary rule. Almost all the cultivable areas are reclaimed for cultivation and “owned” by a household. With the increase of population, the land holding size and the number of plots each household “owns” are decreasing.
2. The main cash crop is ginger, whereas upland rice and other crops are produced for self-consumption. Yield can decrease if ginger is cultivated every year on the same land. Thus, if a household has several plots, then some plots are left fallow to allow their fertility to recover. However, those who only own a single plot have no option but to cultivate ginger successively on the same land; thus, the yield (income) can be unstable. Given the steep slopes of the land and the sporadic rainfall, introducing a new cash crop is not an easy option for most of the households.
3. Furthermore, non-farm income-earning opportunities are limited inside and outside the village. Some households make roof materials; work in agricultural wage labor; and even petty trade, which only brings low earnings. The limited availability of non-farm jobs causes farmers to utilize the land in an exploitative manner.
In addition, the inflow of sediment from the surrounding mountainous areas is a major cause of the degradation of Inle Lake (Furuichi 2007). The sediment inflow is primarily attributed to deforestation caused by expansion of agricultural land utilization and collection of firewood for daily usage. The demand for firewood for daily usage shows a decreasing trend with the increase of electrification in the area. On the contrary, forest degradation caused by agricultural production remains alarming. Therefore, in order to slow down the speed of sediment inflow, it is critical to understand the current status of people’s agricultural land utilization as part of their livelihood in the source of sediments area.
This study focuses on the land utilization pattern of peasant farmers in the mountainous area located above the west bank of Inle Lake, where the influx of sediment is significant. A household survey was conducted in a village in 2019 to collect data of their livelihood status, focusing on their land utilization, agricultural production, and income.
The major findings were as follows:
1. The land that the farmers use for cultivation is officially categorized as “reserved forest.” However, the farmers regard the land as “ancestral land” and use it under their customary rule. Almost all the cultivable areas are reclaimed for cultivation and “owned” by a household. With the increase of population, the land holding size and the number of plots each household “owns” are decreasing.
2. The main cash crop is ginger, whereas upland rice and other crops are produced for self-consumption. Yield can decrease if ginger is cultivated every year on the same land. Thus, if a household has several plots, then some plots are left fallow to allow their fertility to recover. However, those who only own a single plot have no option but to cultivate ginger successively on the same land; thus, the yield (income) can be unstable. Given the steep slopes of the land and the sporadic rainfall, introducing a new cash crop is not an easy option for most of the households.
3. Furthermore, non-farm income-earning opportunities are limited inside and outside the village. Some households make roof materials; work in agricultural wage labor; and even petty trade, which only brings low earnings. The limited availability of non-farm jobs causes farmers to utilize the land in an exploitative manner.