Ⅰ Project Summary 

The project is focused on the development of irrigation to promote agricultural production, coordinate the construction of a flood control system and urban and rural water supply facilities to ensure food safety, flood control, and water supply safety, and provide basic support for the healthy, efficient and sustainable development of the Ayeyarwady delta. By analyzing the status quo of the development and protection of water resources in the Ayeyarwady River Delta and the main problems that exist, studying the needs of Myanmar's economic and social development for agricultural production, formulating irrigation, flood control, drainage and urban and rural water supply plans, and putting forward priority implementation of key projects. The project has completed the Report on Irrigation Development Plan of the Main Grain Producing Areas in Myanmar, whose main content includes planning new irrigation water source projects to enhance water safety assurance capacity in the irrigation area, ensure food safety, flood control and water supply safety in the delta area, and support the sustainable social and economic development. 

Ⅱ Objectives 

With the integrated development of the Myanmar Ayeyarwady delta region as an objective, the improvement of people's livelihood as a standpoint, and the promotion of agricultural through irrigation development as a focus, the planning is aimed to guarantee grain safety, flood control safety and water supply safety, and ensure the healthy, effective and sustainable development of the delta by strengthening the construction of flood control and disaster reduction system and the supporting urban and rural water supply facilities. 

Ⅲ main activities 

Myanmar is an agricultural country; agriculture is the pillar sector of its national economy. Agriculture accounts for about one third of the national economic aggregate and offers 70% of job opportunities nationwide. The cultivated land area of the Ayeyarwady Delta accounts for 15% of that nationwide, the rice planting area accounts for 26%, the grain yield accounts for 30%, and the rice export accounts for 38%, which makes the Ayeyarwady Delta the major grain producing area in Myanmar. The agricultural production in the Ayeyarwady Delta is of great significance for food safety, economic development and people's well-being of Myanmar. However, water infrastructures in Myanmar are inadequate, and its food security index lags behind in the world. Consequently, stabilize grain production and realize economic growth have put forward high demands on the supporting and guaranteeing roles of water infrastructures.  

With the joint efforts, the Ministry of Water Resources of China and the Ministry of Agriculture & Livestock and Irrigation of Myanmar reached a consensus on the project cooperation in December 2017 and the Myanmar side invited China to organize a team to Myanmar as soon as possible to further exchange details on the project implementation. In February 2018, the Changjiang Water Resources Commission (CWRC), MWR of China, sent a coordination team to Myanmar, reaching a consensus on the project organization form, scheduled plan and work contents. 

With the strong support and assistance of the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation of Myanmar, the project team successively sent 6 teams of technical experts (totally more than 50 experts) to the Ayeyarwady Delta for field investigation, and held discussions with officials and technical personnel from Myanmar ministries and commissions, including the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation, the Ministry of Transportation and Communication, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment Conservation, the Ministry of Energy and Mining, the National Central Statistical Office, Yangon Region and Ayeyarwady Region, and collect data and opinions.  

Ⅳ Expected Outcomes/Achieved Results and Prospects 

The project has completed the Report on Irrigation Development Plan of the Main Grain Producing Areas in Myanmar, and the report passed the technical consultation and were accepted by MOALI of Myanmar. After the plan is implemented, it can effectively increase the dry season irrigated area, improve the planting structure, increase agricultural yield, promote the export of agricultural products, and increase the income of farmers. The irrigation water source projects are also the water supply source for urban and rural water supply in the irrigation area, which is of great significance for improving the safety of drinking water. In the middle and upper part of the delta, diverting water from the outer river to the inner river of the polders can improve the water ecological environment in the polder. In the lower part of the delta, diverting fresh water above the brackish water line to the irrigation area can improve the water ecological environment and human settlement environment. The flood control plan can reduce flood disaster losses, ensure agricultural production, ensure flood control safety and food safety in the irrigation area of the delta, protect the lives and property of residents in the delta, and support the sustainable development of the economy and society.

Fig. 1 Irrigation Development Planning of Major Grain Producing Area in Myanmar 

V project contact 

Name: XU Kai 

Organization: Changjiang Institute of Planning, Survey, Design and Research of Changjiang Water Resources Commission, MWR of China 

Title: Senior Engineer 

Telephone: +86 18271848993 

Email: xkthebest@163.com