Maintaining food and nutrition security in Myanmar during the COVID-19 crisis: Lessons from India’s lockdown

The recent sudden imposition of a stringent 21-day lockdown in India in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic has adversely affected the food security of many vulnerable Indians. These impacts highlight the many challenges that this kind of anti-COVID intervention can pose in other settings where the la...

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Main Authors: Researchers of the International Food Policy Research Institute and Michigan State University, Headey, Derek D.
Format: Brief
Language:Inglés
Burmese
Published: International Food Policy Research Institute 2020
Subjects:
Online Access:https://hdl.handle.net/10568/143808
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author Researchers of the International Food Policy Research Institute and Michigan State University
Headey, Derek D.
author_browse Headey, Derek D.
Researchers of the International Food Policy Research Institute and Michigan State University
author_facet Researchers of the International Food Policy Research Institute and Michigan State University
Headey, Derek D.
author_sort Researchers of the International Food Policy Research Institute and Michigan State University
collection Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace)
description The recent sudden imposition of a stringent 21-day lockdown in India in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic has adversely affected the food security of many vulnerable Indians. These impacts highlight the many challenges that this kind of anti-COVID intervention can pose in other settings where the labor force is mostly informally employed with poor job security and low wages, and where the agri-food systems is similarly informal with widespread use of open-air markets. Myanmar is such a setting. India’s chastening experience with food security during its lockdown suggests the following actions would be imperative for maintaining food security in Myanmar: • Allow the free movement of all goods. A stable and reliable agri-food system requires free movements of a wide range of food products (including micronutrient-rich fruits, vegetables and animal-sourced foods) as well as essential non-food goods. • Monitor food markets and agricultural value chains as closely as possible to address problems when they do arise. • Reduce risk of COVID-19 contagion by improving hygiene in Myanmar’s food markets. • Issue clear directives to police, military, and local authorities not to impede the movement of goods. The Government of Myanmar should learn from the mistakes made in India and other developing countries. We must recognize that basic food and nutrition security must be maintained at all times through this complex health and socioeconomic crisis.
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spelling CGSpace1438082025-11-06T07:20:38Z Maintaining food and nutrition security in Myanmar during the COVID-19 crisis: Lessons from India’s lockdown Researchers of the International Food Policy Research Institute and Michigan State University Headey, Derek D. movement restrictions covid-19 health capacity development nutrition disease prevention severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 agrifood systems food security The recent sudden imposition of a stringent 21-day lockdown in India in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic has adversely affected the food security of many vulnerable Indians. These impacts highlight the many challenges that this kind of anti-COVID intervention can pose in other settings where the labor force is mostly informally employed with poor job security and low wages, and where the agri-food systems is similarly informal with widespread use of open-air markets. Myanmar is such a setting. India’s chastening experience with food security during its lockdown suggests the following actions would be imperative for maintaining food security in Myanmar: • Allow the free movement of all goods. A stable and reliable agri-food system requires free movements of a wide range of food products (including micronutrient-rich fruits, vegetables and animal-sourced foods) as well as essential non-food goods. • Monitor food markets and agricultural value chains as closely as possible to address problems when they do arise. • Reduce risk of COVID-19 contagion by improving hygiene in Myanmar’s food markets. • Issue clear directives to police, military, and local authorities not to impede the movement of goods. The Government of Myanmar should learn from the mistakes made in India and other developing countries. We must recognize that basic food and nutrition security must be maintained at all times through this complex health and socioeconomic crisis. 2020-02-01 2024-05-22T12:17:04Z 2024-05-22T12:17:04Z Brief https://hdl.handle.net/10568/143808 en my https://doi.org/10.2499/p15738coll2.133814 Open Access application/pdf application/pdf International Food Policy Research Institute Researchers of the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) and Michigan State University. 2020. Maintaining food and nutrition security in Myanmar during the COVID-19 crisis: Lessons from India’s lockdown. Myanmar SSP Policy Note 1. Washington, DC: International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI). https://doi.org/10.2499/p15738coll2.133678.
spellingShingle movement restrictions
covid-19
health
capacity development
nutrition
disease prevention
severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2
agrifood systems
food security
Researchers of the International Food Policy Research Institute and Michigan State University
Headey, Derek D.
Maintaining food and nutrition security in Myanmar during the COVID-19 crisis: Lessons from India’s lockdown
title Maintaining food and nutrition security in Myanmar during the COVID-19 crisis: Lessons from India’s lockdown
title_full Maintaining food and nutrition security in Myanmar during the COVID-19 crisis: Lessons from India’s lockdown
title_fullStr Maintaining food and nutrition security in Myanmar during the COVID-19 crisis: Lessons from India’s lockdown
title_full_unstemmed Maintaining food and nutrition security in Myanmar during the COVID-19 crisis: Lessons from India’s lockdown
title_short Maintaining food and nutrition security in Myanmar during the COVID-19 crisis: Lessons from India’s lockdown
title_sort maintaining food and nutrition security in myanmar during the covid 19 crisis lessons from india s lockdown
topic movement restrictions
covid-19
health
capacity development
nutrition
disease prevention
severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2
agrifood systems
food security
url https://hdl.handle.net/10568/143808
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