Tropentag, September 18 - 20, 2019 in Kassel "Filling gaps and removing traps for sustainable resources development"

Effect of Farming on Watershed Area of Inle Lake, Myanmar

World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF-Myanmar), Enterprise and Livelihood Development, Myanmar

Abstract

The present research was carried to unfold the awareness of Inle Lake dwellers on the adverse effects of farming activities on the watersheds. Study areas comprised seven villages in four village tracts around the lake. A total of randomly selected 81 farmers were interviewed during March 2016. Information from experts and printed materials from the department of agriculture were also collected. The dependent variable, farmers' awareness of certain environmental effects of farming was further split into six dimensions to get a clear picture of the awareness. Probit regression analysis was performed to determine the determinants of farmers' awareness of certain environmental effects of farming on the watersheds. Findings show that 72, 100, 23, 81, 17 and 59% of the sampled farmers are aware of sedimentation increase, water quality declining, biodiversity loss, fisheries resources decline, drought increase and air pollution increase, respectively, that are caused by farming activities in the lake areas. They have the highest awareness of water quality declining and the lowest awareness of drought as a consequence of farming activities. However, awareness on different aspects of adverse farming effects on the watersheds is influenced by different factors. In general, education, family size, farm size, frequency of manure application and frequency of pesticide application contribute to improve the farmers' awareness of adverse farming effects. On the other hand, cropping intensity (mono-cropping) and duration of high yielding variety (HYV) cultivation negatively impact on this awareness. However, age does not have any significant influence to build awareness of adverse farming effects on the watersheds. This study emphasises the increased awareness as a prerequisite to discourage farmers to practice activities that could potentially harm the watersheds. In order to increase the farmers' awareness of adverse farming effects, government should invest to improve the educational qualifications of the farmers regarding adverse environmental effects of farming activities. Agricultural extension services should be focused on delivering supports to the farmers on increasing the manure (organic fertilisers) application and cropping intensity (indirect way of increasing farm size in terms of total cropped area).

Keywords: Environmental awareness, farmers' attitude, farming, watershed area

Contact Address: Tin Amy Chit, World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF-Myanmar), Enterprise and Livelihood Development, House no (128), Myawinn Street, Dawei, Myanmar, e-mail: tinamy.chitwwf.org.mm