By: Grace Feisthamel Edited by: Muhammad Hani Ahsan and Katherine Farrell Graphic by: Ava Lagressa and Arsh Naseer Farm Fresh Rhode Island Farm Fresh Rhode Island, a nonprofit food hub operating out of Providence, Rhode Island, works to connect local farmers and producers to consumers with an emphasis on increasing food access using federal benefit… Read more »
In January 2018, a team of Cornell University students and faculty conducted a field visit to the Shan State region of Myanmar to investigate the impact that current national agricultural policy has on increased fertilizer use. Based on insights garnered from the visit, research and a comparative analysis with the Shan Highlands of Northern Thailand, recommendations that seek to combat fertilizer misuse and its associated environmental outcomes in Myanmar are proposed.
With its limited arable land and high population density, Myanmar must prioritize a methodical response that addresses the intensification of food and land scarcity as well as redresses lagging foreign and domestic investment in agriculture. An analysis of the country’s current agricultural system illuminates the need for crucial agricultural upgrades and strengthened cooperative structures that empower smallholder farmers to actualize such upgrades effectively.