YANGON, MYANMAR – “Hitting two birds with one stone” is how we can describe this initiative of the AFFM, AFA member in Myanmar, to help their members during this time of the COVID-19 pandemic.

AFFM, one of the sectorial affiliates of CTUM, has more than 528 Basic Level Unions from 12 Regions and States which produce various crops including vegetables, paddy/rice, potatoes, onions, pulses, and fruits. As the COVID-19 pandemic hit globally, AFFM witnessed the challenges faced by their farmer members. The farmers were unable to sell their products as there was no market and they cannot afford storage facilities to put their unsold produce. These challenges added to their suffering to the point that they could barely maintain their livelihood.

To help the farmers, AFFM came up with an idea to develop a marketing/enterprise initiative in collaboration with their parent organization CTUM. This way, they can contribute to addressing the unstable market while helping reduce poverty amongst their trade union members.

What is AFFM doing?

Direct selling of farmers’ crops

As a pilot project, AFFM started a small-scale business involving three of its farmers. AFFM began by taking 45 bags of potatoes and onions grown by their farmer members.

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Targeted customers

AFFM targeted consumers from industrial workers unions and farmer members in other townships for the crops they are selling. They sold their products at a low price and with free delivery service. Because of the pandemic, semi lockdown was implemented and workers have difficulty going to the market to buy food and other essentials so the delivery service is convenient for them.

Products sold at the market are also priced higher which workers from the industrial zone cannot afford. As a solution, AFFM sold the products by packing 1.63 kilograms of the crops in 1 viss bag so the target consumers will be able to afford it and at the same time, it is easy to carry to their respective hostels.

Selling to other farmers union

In Tikegyi township, most of the farmer members of AFFM produce only paddy and some do horticulture. Therefore, they were also targeted for the selling of potatoes and onions. When AFFM delivered the crops to Tikegyi township, the farmers were very happy because they were able to buy these products at a low price and these were even delivered to their village or township so they did not have to travel far.

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Crops exchange

Meanwhile, to help the farmers of Tikegyi, AFFM brought their fruit produce including pineapples and jackfruit, and sold these to the customers in industrial zones.

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Free delivery service for the consumers

AFFM provided delivery services of the products to the hostels using a small car or motorbike. Some areas are on semi-lockdown so people are not allowed to go out and some are afraid to go out because of the virus. AFFM provided free door-to-door delivery of their products to their consumers so they didn’t have to go out of their residences.

Some CTUM members such as the Live and Dance Unions are supporting the AFFM initiative through an awareness campaign and at the same time, selling farmers products with a fair price in different townships within Yangon city.

These farmers’ products are also advertised online on FacebookClick here to see the crops they are selling.

Through this initiative, AFFM provided market access for farmers, while also selling basic goods at a fair price for the members of trade unions in the industrial zone.

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What is our next objective?

Learning through this experience, we now have plans to open a marketing stall at Hlaing Thayar Industrial Zone where the majority of the 100,000 workers and their families stay. The Hlaing Thayar Zone is located in the Hlaing Thayar township, which is home to over 700,000 to 1 million people. The location is important as the primary target buyers for the products are CTUM’s labor-union-members employed in the processing zone of Hlaing Thayar. Other target buyers are members of the Industrial Workers’ Federation of Myanmar (IWFM), Building and Workers’ Federation of Myanmar (BWFM), and other sectors like transportation, education, and mining.

For the pilot selling, the primary products that will be sold include seasonal crops cultivated by AFFM farmers such as beans, onion, potato, chili (harvested between May to August). The next products to be sold will largely depend on the available harvested products. Rice, for example, is available between November and December.

Strengthening the cooperation among members of AFFM in select 5 townships as start-off partners in a small and pilot marketing activity

AFFM will establish and strengthen the partnership between member-farmer-producer-groups from the Magway and Shan regions that produce onion, beans, oil, and potato. The purpose of this is to generate commitments from the supplier groups such that products are directed and made available to AFFM for marketing hence ensuring a steady supply of products in a certain period. The partnership will expand over the period depending on the products available on the farm. Prices at farm gates will be competitive to help farmers increase their income. The business enterprise may develop a scheme to increase the benefits that farmers may get from participating in this collective initiative. #

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