Differential impacts of an irrigation project : case study of the Swar Dam Project in Yedashe, Bago region of Myanmar

In Myanmar, the government has made a vast investment in the construction of dams to improve crop productivity and to ensure socioeconomic development. This study explores the differential impacts, in terms of socioeconomic conditions, of these investments for paddy farmers in Yedashe Township, in the Bago region in the south-central part of Myanmar. A farm survey among 95 respondents is used to compare the situation before and after the construction of a dam. It is observed that after the installation of the dam, the farmers could practice double rice cropping enabling them to gain higher income. The impact of the dam project on the employment rate, paddy yields and incomes were measured using normalized vector equations. A positive effect on all these factors was observed. The incomes of the farmers increased by benefiting from higher crop productivity, more crops per year, and more benefits over variable costs. However, the return above variable cash costs (RAVCC) and the benefit over cost (BC) ratio of head-end users was significantly higher than that of middle-reach and tail-end users. Therefore, the study additionally explored the problems of unequal water access and farmer-oriented solutions to these problems. The lack of monitoring and management of the irrigation institutions was found to be a major constraint for the development of the irrigation sector. Therefore, efficient utilisation of irrigation water by water-users, and policies as well as investments in the development of irrigation infrastructure need to be emphasised

A GIS-based modelling approach to identify natural drivers of coral reef abundance in the Northern Myeik Archipelago, Myanmar

To predict the coral abundance of the Northern of Myeik, I compared various progressions of model techniques, including stepwise regression (using OLS), GWR, and Random forest analysis methods, to investigate relationships between coral abundance survey data and environmental variables such as depth, slope, aspect, rugosity, chlorophyll, sea surface temperature, and turbidity. Depth and SST have the most significant effect on predicted coral species abundance. Increased reef abundance was associated with a reduction in sea surface temperature stability and shallower optimum depths. Even then, GWR outperformed the other studied approaches in places with a substantial degree of input-output disagreement. The GWR model production was used to produce a final predicted coral abundance modelling map. The accuracy of the GWR model was determined by using Random forest predict modelling to map and comparing the higher R2 and predicted and observation graphs to the slope and interest value of each model. This sampling tool for a reef prediction model can be used in preference of potential species abundance modelling (e.g., seagrass, mangrove) in future Myanmar coastal management projects, resulting in more accurate predictions and more educated species management decisions. It can assist the Department of Fisheries in making fisheries management decisions and help to keep fish stocks stable in the long run by fostering a greater understanding of key environmental variables

Measuring the economic impact of climate change on crop production in the dry zone of Myanmar : a Ricardian approach

Myanmar is the country with the highest economic vulnerability (EV) to climate change in the Southeast Asian region. The dry zone of Myanmar occupies two-thirds of the agricultural lands and it has higher temperatures than elsewhere in the country. Climate change has severe impacts on agricultural production in this region. Moreover, changes in the precipitation patterns increase the likelihood of crop failures in the short-run and production declines in the long run. Therefore, an assessment of the economic impacts of climate change on crop production in the dry zone of Myanmar is very relevant. This paper examines the interactions between agriculture and climate and assesses the economic impact of climate change while using a Ricardian model. A cross-sectional survey covering three regions in the central dry zone: (Magwe, Mandalay, and Sagaing regions) was conducted, yielding a sample of 425 farmers. A non-linear relationship between climate indicators (temperature and precipitation) and revenue of land was found. The marginal effects were calculated by selecting economic and socio-demographic variables. The estimated marginal impacts suggest that the projected changes in temperature will affect the crop productivity of the region. The results also show that the temperature and rainfall components of global warming are both important. Predictions from three global circulation models all confirm that temperature is predicted to increase in all seasons. A significant marginal impact of increasing temperature on the net revenue of farm households was observed in the region. These findings call for policy makers and development planners to articulate the necessary climate change adaptation measures and mitigation options for reducing the negative impacts of climate change. Improved management and conservation of the available water resources could generate water for irrigation purposes and the dissemination of climate smart agricultural practices could lessen the negative impacts of climate change effects on agriculture in the dry zone of Myanmar

The Relationship Between Teachers’ Demographic Profiles And Teachers’ Perception Towards The Internal Quality Assurance Assessment At Program Level In Two Secondary High Schools In Laiza And Mai Ja Yang Townships, Kachin State, Myanmar.

The purpose of this study was to determine the teachers’ perception towards Internal Quality Assurance (IQA) Assessment at program level and relationship with the teachers’ demographic factors: age, educational qualification, years of service in school, and academic rank in two Secondary High Schools in Laiza and Mai Ja Yang Townships, Kachin State, Myanmar, and to compare teachers’ perception towards internal quality assurance system according to teachers’ gender. Two set of questionnaires were used to conduct this study: Questionnaires for teachers’ demographic profile and Questionnaires for Internal Quality Assurance (IQA) Assessment at Program Level. 95% of the questionnaires were returned valid and data were analyzed by frequency, percentage, mean, standard deviation, and Pearson’s Product Moment Correlation Coefficient (r). The findings of objectives were that the teachers’ perception towards total internal quality assurance system based on fifteen components was at low level. Therefore, there was no significant difference between male teachers and female teachers’ perception towards internal quality assurance system according to teachers’ gender. There was no significant relationship between internal quality assurance system at program level and other teachers’ demographic factors. Since all the significant values were bigger than .05 at the significant level. The study recommended that school’s principals and board committee members should pay more attention to focus on IQA strategic planning and implementation process in order for promoting schools’ quality

The Loyalty of Players in Online Streaming Games in Thailand

Purpose- The research aims to get a deeper insight into the factors that impact players’ loyalty to online streaming games in Thailand. Design/Methodology/Approach- The methods include research design, sampling plan, Questionnaire design, pilot test, validity check for the questionnaire, Methods to gather the data and its procedures, and the statistical treatment of the data. The research also made a new conceptual framework based on 3 frameworks from previous related studies. Findings - The loyalty to online streaming games in Thailand has factors that impact it. Such factors or independent variables are gaming intensity, experience, avatar identification, and flow. Loyalty is the dependent variable. The results show that all the independent variables are significant and impact players’ loyalty to online streaming games in Thailand. Research Limitations/Implications –The main limitation was the COVID-19 pandemic; as most people stay at home and practice social distancing, it was somewhat hard to collect data personally. The research on gaming topics is also quite new, so the researchers could not dig too deep into the case. Originality/value- The study is about the loyalty of players in online streaming games in Thailand and the important factors that impact it

Assessment of climate change vulnerability of farm households in Pyapon District, a delta region in Myanmar

Sea level rise causes saltwater intrusion and flooding of agricultural land and ultimately threatens the livelihoods of farm households in the delta region of Myanmar. Empirical research on the effects of climate change on the delta's agriculture and an assessment of the vulnerability are becoming necessary. This study explores the vulnerability of farm households to sea level rise using two methods: the Livelihood Vulnerability Index (LVI), which is comprised of 37 indicators, and the Socioeconomic Vulnerability Index (SeVI), which contains 35 indicators. Interviews with 178 farmers were conducted in Bogale, Pyapon and Dedaye Townships in Pyapon District. In addition, 7 focus group discussions were performed, with at least 2 discussions in each Township. Both methods identify Bogale to be the most vulnerable Township, followed by Dedaye and Pyapon Townships. Following the LVI approach, Bogale Township has the highest sensitivity to climate effects and the highest exposure to natural hazards, but also a higher adaptive capacity than the other townships. In contrast using the SeVI approach, Bogale was found to have the highest sensitivity and exposure to natural hazards but the lowest adaptive capacity score. The study found that the climate change adaptation measures taken by the farmers are important to limit vulnerable to the adverse effects of climate change and thus promotion of the adaptive capacity of farmers is important for the delta region of Myanmar

Economic Analysis of Production and Marketing Activities of Mung Bean (Green gram) Farmers in Selected Areas in Yangon Region, Myanmar

Pulses in Myanmar are not only high value for daily diet but also significant crop for commercialization in farming. Mung bean is one of the main commercial crops in the selected survey areas in Yangon region. Therefore, this study was conducted to know the profitability and market performance of mung bean producers in the study area. The sampled farmers were categorized into three groups based on their mung bean cultivated area. The BCR results showed 1.92, 2.12 and 1.95 for small, medium, and high sown acre groups indicating the highest BCR obtained by the medium size (group II) farmers. All the sampled farmers were found in profitable conditions of mung bean production. In the cost share analysis, the results showed the highest share of production cost was material cost and followed by hired labor cost share all the groups. As one of the exports produces of mung bean faced price instability among farmers pointed that there should have steady export markets and encouraging the value-added products of mung bean. To produce the quality mung bean, the government should increase the extension facilities and improved techniques for mung bean production. Finally, the results of marketing activities indicated the requirement of systematic and advance marketing system for mung bean production is essential in Myanmar. Keywords: Mung bean, farmers, production, marketing, profitability DOI: 10.7176/JESD/11-22-01 Publication date: November 30th 202

Empowering youth: developing spiritual and intellectual enhancement in youth

In this era of information and technology engaging around us, knowledge has been made the essential foundation to build a modern and dynamic generation of a country. Even our holy book of guidance, the Quran, has repeatedly called believers to continue to seek knowledge as a way to transform ourselves as vicegerents of the Almighty. Chapter 45, verse 13 of the Quran, emphasized that knowledge is the perfect medium for us to reflect and understand the attributes of Allah through his creations. Thus, as the generation of this modernized era, we should consistently seek the opportunity to increase our knowledge in various aspects, be it spiritually or otherwise. To this, it cannot be denied that most of our knowledge is attained through a formal educational institution, specifically schools. Such an institution provides convenient learning space, ambiance, and facilities to mould the students into a figure that is well equipped with concrete facts and information, as well as the fundamental communication skills needed. The assistance of schools in shaping these students give out great importance since they are considered to be future leaders. Focus and emphasis should be channelled to improvise the characteristics of the youth of today, as we know by nurturing them to become successful leaders of tomorrow should be carried out at a young age. Through this study, we get to witness first-hand the situation that the students nowadays are going through at school. The prerequisites to a good education, which are the school facilities and the school environment must be taken care of, to establish a quality learning process. However, the standard of youth in our society is not up to the mark as anticipated. The background of this study is to highlight the decay of morality, lack of discipline, deterioration of healthcare, and its system in schools, weakening the mental strength of our youth, which is rampant in our community. Hence, the objective of this paper is to observe the five main attributes of the students, discipline, physical strength, spiritual power, mental quality, and behaviour change, which are the primary key to determine whether our youths are on the right track in configuring leaders of tomorrow. The methodology applied in this research is quantitative, for that, questionnaires will be prepared, interviews with school children from targeted primary and secondary schools in Gombak area will be conducted, analysis of interviews’ reports will be conducted consequently, and finally, the publication of the polished paper is planned at the end

Challenges and Barriers Recruitment of Professionals and Management Trainees in a Transitional Situation to the New Normal

The purpose of this study is to find out the obstacles faced in recruiting professional and management trainees in the transition situation to the new normal. Competition in the global business world requires company management to be more concerned in managing human resources in it. However, in the new normal situation, several challenges and obstacles in professional recruitment are difficult to attract Candidates with the Right Qualifications, Incomplete Company-Related Information, Ineffective Channels Used, Limited Access to Required Devices and others. All recruitment processes including selection can be done online, the right solution during a pandemic

Interference Analysis of Medium Voltage Air Line 20 KV Feeder Using Failure Mode and Effects Analysis Method

This article discusses the interference analysis of medium voltage air line 20 kv feeder using failure mode and effects analysis method. The distribution network consists of two parts, the first the distribution network consists of two parts, the first is the medium / primary voltage (JTM) network, which supplies electrical power from the sub-transmission substation to the distribution substation, the primary distribution network uses three wires or four wires for three phases. the impact of the reliability index from the calculation of the impact of the reliability index based on the number of disturbances (SAIFI), it shows that in January 2019 it has the highest index value, namely SAIFI, 1,695 disturbances/ subscribers. From the results of the calculation of the impact of the reliability index based on the number of blackouts (SAIDI), it shows that in January 2019 the SAIDI index value was 3,883 hours/customer