Food Security and Livelihood

Empowering Rural Communities and Protecting Farmers’ Rights

Ongoing armed conflict since the 2021 military coup has driven millions of people from their homes and pushed Myanmar into one of the most severe food insecurity crises in the world. Large numbers of internally displaced persons (IDPs) are concentrated in conflict-affected regions—including Sagaing, Magway, Chin, Kachin, Rakhine, Karen and Karenni States, and Eastern Bago Region—where military offensives, movement restrictions, and market disruptions have severely undermined food production and access. Displacement has forced families to abandon farmland, livestock, tools, and local support networks, leaving vast areas of agricultural land unplanted or destroyed. Combined with economic collapse, inflation, climate shocks, and restricted humanitarian access, these conditions place millions at risk of acute hunger and long-term livelihood loss.

IPSJ responds by working directly with farming communities, IDPs, and local organizations—particularly in Karen and Karenni States and Eastern Bago Region—to strengthen food security, protect livelihoods, and promote food sovereignty under conflict conditions. Our programs combine practical agricultural support, including sustainable crop production and small-scale farming, with rights-based advocacy on land tenure security, farmers’ rights, and participatory rural development. Recognizing that food insecurity is inseparable from land governance, environmental protection, and equitable resource management, IPSJ supports community-led strategies that address immediate survival needs while building long-term resilience. This work helps displaced and conflict-affected communities sustain dignity, reduce dependency, and participate meaningfully in Myanmar’s federal democratic future.