Published on: May 1, 2021, Submitted by Lauren Burcham on: April 26, 2021, Reporting year: 2020
The Naypyitaw agreement established in 2018 encourages integrated agriculture for rice-fish production by allowing up to 15% of a farmer’s rice-field area can be converted into fish holding refuges for integrated rice-fish production systems. Using better management practices for rice, fish and water are shown to increase rice yield, profitability, employment options for women and nutrition for families. Piloting in 2020 suggests that despite a reduction of rice land, farmers are able to increase rice harvest by 18%.
This photo is taken from the first official Rice-Fish Farmers Day in MM. The event was attended by the Ayeyarwady Regional minister for agriculture, livestock, natural resources and environmental conservation (U Tin Aung Win). The result is a milestone for Integrated Agriculture in Myanmar as the Regional Minister announced that as long as less than 15% of a rice field
The national diet of Myanmar relies on rice and fish, and fish alone accounts for 60% of animal protein consumed. However, there is a huge disparity between lower and higher income fish consumption. Poor families in Myanmar are estimated to consume 7 kg/person/year, compared to 50kg/person/year for the richest families. Further, only four out of ten households in Myanmar can afford a diet that meets nutrient needs, which particularly affects households with adolescent girls and lactating women. A huge barrier to nutrition is cost – the average cost of a nutritious diet costs more than double of a diet that only meets energy needs.
The project Development of Rice Fish Systems (RFS) in the Ayeyarwady Delta, Myanmar aims to improve rice and fish production by prioritizing gender equity, income and food and nutrition outcomes. These practices can improve diets of farmers and improve income from fish without sacrificing income from rice. This is achieved by identifying which agro-ecological zones in the Ayeyarwady Delta would most benefit from RFS and trial sites to ensure success of the project.
RFS use the aquatic habitats created by crop irrigations systems like reservoirs, irrigation, and drainage canals. RFSs encompass a spectrum of farming and fishing practices, from traditional capture of fish in rice-dominated landscapes through to controlled farming of fish in rice fields. Adequate management and planning of these aquatic habitats can provide a new source of income and consumption through the harvesting of fish. Crops like rice can still be cultivated while increasing the productivity of the area by introducing a rotating or simultaneous presence of fish.
This type of RFS integration was made possible through the ‘Naypyitaw Agreement’ that promotes integrated agriculture by allowing the addition of fish in rice fields by reducing the rice area by 15%. Despite the reduction of rice area, evidence from 2020 shows that those piloting the RFS harvested 18% more rice than their neighboring farmers, despite using 13% less land. Evidence from rice field fisheries in Cambodia shows that rice field fishery catch can provide around 60% of fish and aquatic animals consumed in both wet and dry seasons, suggesting an increase in consumption of small nutritious fish in farming households.
Should these farming system innovations be adopted at scale, Myanmar stands to benefit from increased employment, incomes and nutritional value of farm plots - alongside associated reductions in pesticide pollution- and water use benefits.
During 2020, research allowed for development of a rice-fish suitability map that provides important information regarding suitability of scaling the project up to more areas in Myanmar. Using Geographical Information Systems (GIS), suitability across the Ayeyarwady has been determined through integrated crop modelling data. This data reveals which areas of the Ayeyarwady are suitable for RFS, which serves as a precursor for expansion of the project.
Field trials from RFS have been completed by six farmers in three townships across the Ayeyarwady delta after three dry seasons and two monsoon seasons. Results from these trials show that neighboring farms produced 18% less rice than those with RFS, despite using 13% more land and a higher quantity of pesticides and fertilizers. The publication "Integrating fish into irrigation infrastructure projects in Myanmar: what if...?" from this project suggests that if 10% of the potential area for RFS was used that an additional 100,000 mt of fish and $100 million USD could be generated for rice farmers.
Stage of Maturity: Stage 1
Contributions in sphere of influence:
1.4.1 - Reduced pre- and -post production losses, including those caused by climate change
2.1.1 - Increased availability of diverse nutrient-rich foods
This work was undertaken as part of the CGIAR Research Program on Fish Agri-Food Systems (FISH) led by WorldFish. The program is supported by contributors to the CGIAR Trust Fund. Funding support for this work was provided by Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR) as part of the Development of rice fish systems (RFS) in the Ayeyarwady Delta, Myanmar project.
For further information on the project, contact the Country Director Michael Akester M.Akester@cgiar.org
Curriculum vitae
|
1)
Family name: Akester
2)
First names: Michael Joseph
3)
Date of
birth:
13.04.1957
4)
Nationality: British
5)
Civil status: Married
6)
Education:
|
Institution |
Degree(s)
or Diploma(s) obtained: |
|
Stirling
University, Scotland UK |
MSc Aquaculture & Fisheries Management |
|
Exeter
University, England UK |
BSc Combined Honours Biology & Geography |
7)
Language
skills: Indicate competence on a scale of 1 to 5 (1 -
excellent; 5 - basic)
|
Language |
Reading |
Speaking |
Writing |
|
English |
Mother Tongue |
||
|
Spanish |
1 |
1 |
1 |
|
French |
4 |
5 |
5 |
8)
Membership of professional bodies:
·
Aquaculture
Certification Council Certified Evaluator (Hatcheries, Farms and Processing
plants) see: http://www.aquaculturecertification.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=14&Itemid=16
·
Bangladesh
Shrimp & Fish Foundation board of directors 2001-2005 www.shrimpfoundation.org/
·
Board Member: Knowledge Management
Infrastructure and Project Management Practice Group (IPMG-UNOPS)
9)
Other skills:
·
Programme & Project Management
·
Strategic Planning
·
Project proposal writing
·
Fund Raising
·
Survey design (baseline surveys, poverty
analysis)
·
HIV-AIDS prevalence survey & community
awareness
·
Extensive shrimp and prawn farming
·
Civil Society Organisation development
·
Public Administration Reform (PAR) in practice
·
Promotion of Human Rights and Customary Rights
·
Conflict management
10)
Present
position:
WorldFish Country
Director in Myanmar
Previous
two positions:
UN Regional Coordinator
Chile–Peru based in Lima (5-years).
Senior Planning Adviser
(N1) to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD), Government of
Vietnam on a Danish International Development Assistance (Danida) co-funded
Fisheries Sector Programme (7-years).
11)
Years within
the firm: WorldFish Feb 2017–date;
UN 2011 – Dec 2016; Danida 2001-2011
12)
Key
qualifications:
·
Programme Management & design (3 programmes
& 4 projects, 150 million total 25 years).
·
Sustainable Natural Resource & Fisheries Development
expert (33 years).
·
Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation specialist
(5 years).
·
Good governance and Public Administration
Reform (4 years)
·
Fisheries co-management experience in Latin
America and SE Asia (12 years)
·
Promotion of sustainable resource use via
certification schemes and use of Good Practice (12 years).
·
Climate Change Adaptation (CCA) in coastal and
inland areas related to fisheries and the environment (12 years).
·
HIV-AIDS prevalence survey Fisheries Sector
Vietnam 2009 (5 years).
·
Formation of Civil Society associations, gender
inequality reduction and promotion of human rights (12 years)
13)
Specific country
experience:
|
Country |
Date |
Country |
Date |
Country |
Date |
|
Myanmar |
2017-date |
Peru-Chile |
2011-2016 |
Vietnam |
2004-2011 |
|
Bangladesh |
2001-2004 |
England |
1999-2001 |
Chile |
1995-1999 |
|
Mexico |
1993-1995 |
Bangladesh |
1988
- 1993 |
Scotland |
1986-1988 |
|
Mexico |
1982-1986 |
Scotland
|
1979-1980 |
|
|
|
Kenya |
1986
2 months |
|
|
|
|
14)
Professional experience
|
Date |
Location |
Company |
Position |
Description |
|
Feb-2017- date |
Myanmar |
WorldFish |
Country Director |
1.
Manage and implement a sustainable,
multi-year program that strengthens the institutional capacity of local
partners; and ensures Myanmar country program is appropriately resourced and
with the right partnerships, staffing and strategic plan to deliver improved
fisheries and aquaculture in Myanmar. 2.
In consultation with CGIAR and international
and national research partners, implement a 5-year program for fisheries and
aquaculture research and development that guides the Center’s Myanmar program
and provides a basis for communication with partners and donors to leverage
ongoing support and collaboration. 3.
Strengthen Research and Development
capacities of the Department of Fisheries (DoF) by encouraging partners to
work with DoF’s activity working groups (AWGs) and through the Fishery
Research and Development Network (FRDN) with Universities, NGOs, and private
sector. 4.
Lead a coalition of Myanmar and international
scientists in coordinated research and development activities with national
Universities and research institutions. 5.
Create a culture of research and knowledge
exchange that builds capacities for producing consistent and quality science
across the fishery sector and country program and encourage participation in
international conferences and researcher skill-sharing exchanges with
international research institutions. 6.
Work with DoF and partners to strengthen
governance policies and capabilities in fisheries and aquaculture. 7.
Oversee the development of a national database
on fisheries and aquaculture. 8.
Ensure the documentation and publishing of
the learning from the country program and contribute to peer-reviewed
journals and publications. |
|
2011-Dec
2016 |
Peru-Chile |
UNOPS |
Regional
Coordinator and Project Manager: GEF-UNDP Humboldt
Large Marine Ecosystem (LME) Project (USD31.5
million) |
1.
Management of the GEF-UNDP Humboldt Current
LME Project & Coordination Unit, staff and fund management; 2.
Annual Work Plan preparation in coordination
with related Projects, National Focal Points, GEF Partners and relevant
donors; 3.
National Park and Multiple Use Marine
Protected Area work. Promotion of fisheries co-management and community work
including the promotion of customary resource user rights based on the 30
UDHR articles, conflict management; 4.
Delivery of the Ecosystem & Transboundary
Diagnostic Analyses, (EDA & TDA) and Strategic Action Programme (SAP)
development process; 5.
Ecosystem Based Management and training for
biodiversity protection at pilot levels in both countries; 6.
Promotion of multisectoral Coastal and Marine
Spatial Planning in coordination with NOAA; 7.
Work to ensure all UN and GEF policies,
regulations and procedures, including good governance, gender equality and
human rights as well as reporting requirements are adhered to; 8.
Create links and partnerships with all
stakeholders both public and private at all levels; 9.
Preparation of Terms of Reference for
consultants and contractors including review and approval of deliverables; 10.
Presentation of work carried out in the HCLME
region related to Climate Change Adaptation (CCA) and Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) at
international events; 11.
Leverage of additional co-funding and design
of a new project to implement the SAP; and 12.
Representation of the Project at meetings and
other project related fora within the region and globally. |
|
2006-2011 |
Vietnam |
Danida |
Senior
Adviser (N1) Policy
and Planning Programme Manager Fisheries Sector Programme (USD40 million) |
1.
Assistance to the
Government of Vietnam (GoV) senior managers in fisheries sector policy
formulation, planning and regulation relating in general to sustainable
fisheries development, poverty reduction, Climate Change Adaptation and
specifically to the concept of civil society group development to ensure Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR); 2.
Training of GoV staff
working in fisheries development to provide strategic technical information
for policy making and planning; 3.
Provision of the
latest international fisheries sector information relevant to GoV units and
staff whose task it is to participate in international negotiations; 4.
HIV-AIDS fishery
sector prevalence survey carried out in coordination with GoV authorities
with special reference to human rights; 5.
Assistance to the GoV
with their 5-year plan objective of finding viable alternative livelihoods
for fisherfolk taken out of the artisanal capture fishery; 6.
Implementation of a
monitoring system with special reference to aspects of fisheries planning and
management with civil society group formation, gender inequality reduction
and training; 7.
Assist with the
implementation of the Public Administrative Reform programme (2006-2010),
with focus on Organizational development (Action plan no.2) and Modernization
of the administrative system, including information and communication
technology (Action plan no. 7); 8.
Promotion of good
governance schemes to ensure sustainable natural resource management suitable
for small-scale producers; and 9.
Advice given
regarding the coordination of donor assistance to the fisheries sector. 10.
Promotion of
sustainable aquaculture including coastal mangrove-shrimp extensive farming
systems. |
|
2004-2006 |
Vietnam |
Danida |
Senior
Adviser (N2) Component
Manager: Marine and Brackish Water expert (USD4
million) |
1.
Assistance given to the GoV in developing
annual work plans and budgets; 2.
Promotion of socially inclusive coastal and
marine aquaculture planning and management in targeted provinces and
districts, with full dissemination of the approaches and results to civil
society groups at a national level. This work included the formation of
associations and credit groups under the Women’s Union who assisted with the
careful dissemination of Human Rights information; 3.
In collaboration with research institutes and
universities, assistance given in developing high quality fish and shellfish
seed production by the private sector with a diversified range of species
involving public, private and civil society - community stakeholders in
mangrove environments associated with four coastal provinces; 4.
Assistance with the development of a
profitable and socially inclusive aquaculture grow-out sector, both shrimp
and fish, with a range of diverse and accessible production systems with
improved productivity and disease-free production; 5.
Development of human capacity for a high
quality service sector, including health aspects of aquatic species, based on
multidisciplinary research and good analytical capacity, functioning through
an effective support network with widely applied standards; 6.
The development of civil society groups and
implementation of community based activities closely linked with
participatory extension systems focused on the poorer members and covering
more than 80,000 people in the targeted province communities and districts in
close collaboration with the selected provincial Departments and other local
stakeholders; 7.
Assistance to the GoV in their task to
monitor, analyse and develop lessons learned, and dissemination of the
experiences gained; 8.
Assistance to the GoV in the negotiation of
contracts and liaison with international consultants during assignments |
|
2001-2004 |
Bangladesh |
Danida |
Senior
Adviser (N2) Programme
Management (USD12 million) |
Coordination of all technical assistance aspects
provided by the Danish Government regarding aquaculture extension work in
three geographical areas in Bangladesh covering around 30% of the country:
Mymensingh (North central); Patuakhali (Southwest) and Noakhali (Southeast).
Coordination of micro-credit delivery via local NGOs with the strengthening
of civil society groups to improve their resource management capacity while
promoting human rights and gender mainstreaming. This Programme was anchored
in the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock with components working on both
fisheries and livestock extension services in rural Bangladesh. My role was
to coordinate three large projects in geographically distinct areas where
Danida directly hired large teams of extension staff (over 50 in each area)
to coordinate work at the upazilla (grass root administrative area) level.
Work included aspects of CCA and DRR in mangrove areas associated with
Charlands in Patuakhali and Noakhali in addition to rice-prawn production
systems. |
|
1999-2001 |
UK |
MacAlister
Elliott and Partners Ltd |
Fisheries
expert |
Evaluation
of projects designed to improve the sustainable management of aquatic and
terrestrial renewable natural resources via links between academia, industry
and civil society. Participation in the MAFF LINK (research and industry)
project evaluation. |
|
1995-1999 |
Chile |
EU
- HTS |
Fisheries
and Aquaculture specialist. Programme Manager Aysen
(USD7 million) |
Promoting aquaculture
and seabed resource management for isolated ethnic minority artisanal fisher
groups. Management of finances and personnel. Promotion of Government policy
change. Promotion of direct marketing links. Hazard Analysis and Critical
Control Points (HACCP) audits in certified food processing plants set up by
the Programme. Brand name development for artisanal fisheries products.
Assisted with the setting up of harmful algal bloom (red tide) monitoring
systems and use of High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) units in
association with the Chilean Government and Regional Planning Department
(SERPLAC). Work with group formation and provision of advice regarding business
management for fisherfolk families. The promotion of customary rights
relating to the concept of co-management and Territorial Use Right Fisheries
including human rights aspects with ethnic minorities. |
|
1993-1995 |
Mexico |
DFID-
Stirling Uni |
Aquaculture
specialist and Project Manager (USD2 million) |
Consultant to the
Institute of Aquaculture, Stirling University, Scotland. Evaluation of the
environmental value of native species.
Responsible for the construction of a fish production centre on a 7ha
site with 32 earth ponds, hatchery and food production lab. Designed
Extension methodologies to promote native species production. Training of
local Extension team workers. Project was funded by DFID, UK. |
|
1988-1993 |
Bangladesh |
DFID
(ODA) |
Project
Manager (USD4
million) |
Technical Cooperation
Officer (TCO) Team Leader on the ODA (DFID) UK 'Northwest Fisheries Extension
Project'. Responsible for supervising
preliminary site surveys followed by the design of a large fisheries experimental
station on a 20ha site. Direction of construction company selection plus
overall control of all construction works including more than 100,000 tonnes
of earth fill for flood protection and pond gravity drainage. Focal point for
training and extension activities in the northwestern sector of Bangladesh.
Poverty alleviation and work to ensure the leasing of ponds for landless
people was linked with human rights aspects especially related to access to
land for fish farming. Management of project funds via an imprest account,
total project cost over $US4m for the initial 4 years. Supervision of the
Training and Extension components of the project assisting civil society
groups in isolated areas. Management of local and UK personnel (50 full time
members of staff) and fleet of project vehicles. |
|
1986-1988 |
UK |
Stirling
Uni |
Assistant
MSc course Director |
Facilitated the
running of 2 MSc courses in Aquaculture and Fisheries Management, plus Fish
pathobiology. Work included periods of
overseas work for ODA (DFID), UK in Development Project Training and
Extension. I was also involved in all aspects of training. |
|
1982-1986 |
Mexico |
DFID
(ODA) |
Aquaculture
expert (USD4
million) |
Technical Cooperation
Officer (TCO) working for the ODA, now DFID, UK Government as an expert in
aquaculture and capacity building at the Technological Institute in Veracruz
Mexico. Advice given to the Mexican Education Authority regarding the
strengthening of their Fisheries training centres nationwide. Work included
all aspects of aquaculture training and extension as well as curriculum
development. A fish production unit
was designed and built. Local oyster production cooperatives (ejidos) were
established and managed in a sustainable way. This work included negotiations
regarding customary rights and conflict management between tourism and
fisheries sectors. |
|
1979-1980 |
UK |
Kames
Fish Farm Ltd |
Farm
Manager |
Commercial fish
farming. Production of rainbow trout at a 150-tonne/annum sea cage site. Work included the construction of fish
cages, general fish husbandry techniques plus farm management. |
|
1976 |
UK |
MAFF
Burnham-on-Crouch |
Laboratory
assistant |
Worked on analysis of
water samples collected from sea surveys from the North Sea to establish the
toxicity of materials related to insurance claims - colliery and dredging
waste covering shellfish beds. Use of
Coulter Counter for particulate analysis |
15)
Other relevant information
·
Recent publications: 1) Current state of goods, services and governance of the Humboldt
Current Large Marine Ecosystem in the context of climate change 2017https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envdev.2017.02.006 2) ‘Productivity and Sustainable Management of the Humboldt Current Large
Marine Ecosystem under Climate Change’, 2015. 3) ‘The Resilience and Robustness of the Humboldt Current Large
Marine Ecosystem’. Chapter 9 in Stress, Sustainability and development of Large
Marine Ecosystems during Climate Change: Policy and Implementation. LME Volume
18, UNDP 2013. 4) ‘Sustainability of the Humboldt Current Large Marine
Ecosystem’. Chapter 7 in Frontline
Observations on Climate Change and Sustainability of Large Marine Ecosystems, UNDP 2012. 4) Many
local publications relating to climate change and fisheries, ecosystem based
management, poverty focus etc (UN and Danida). 5) Global Forum on Oceans,
Coasts and Islands. Hanoi, Vietnam July
2008 paper presented on: ‘The Land-Sea Interface: Advantages of an Ecosystem
Approach to Coastal Aquaculture and Artisanal Capture Fisheries Development in
Vietnam’.
·
Awarded Vietnam Gold
Star Medal of Honour for service to the Fisheries Sector in Vietnam by the
Ministry of Fisheries, Government of Vietnam, 2006.
·
APMG PRojects IN
Controlled Environments (PRINCE 2) certificate – Foundation Level. Global
Aquaculture Alliance Farm Certified and HACCP licence holder.
·
Culturally aware and
diplomatic. Clean Driving Licence: all vehicles up to 5 tonnes. Computer
literate.
·
Research experience
within UK, Mexican, Chilean, Bangladeshi and Vietnamese trade environments.
16)
Referees.
1) Mr. Kirk Bayabos, Manager, Small Grants Cluster, UNOPS 14th Floor, 708
3rd Avenue, New York NY 10174 USA, Cell: +1 917 640 4526 KirkB@unops.org
2) Dr. Andrew Hudson, Head, Water and Ocean Governance Programme,
Development Policy, UNDP New York Tel. +1 212 9065000 andrew.hudson@undp.org
3) Dr. Kenneth Sherman, Director NOAA Large Marine Ecosystem Program, NOAA Narragansett
Laboratory, Tel. + 1 401 7823210 kenneth.sherman@noaa.gov
4) Dr. Jørgen G Jensen, Senior Fisheries Adviser, Ministry of Foreign
Affairs of Denmark 2, Asiatisk Plads DK-1448 Copenhagen K. jojens@um.dk
5) Mr. Christian Holde Severin, Senior Environmental Specialist, The Global
Environment Facility (GEF), Washington Tel. + 1 202 458 2001 cseverin@thegef.org
17)
Contact
M.Akester@cgiar.org and michaelakester@gmail.com
and c/o 14 The Oast House, Pinehurst, Grange Road, Cambridge, England CB3 9AP
