(Yangon, Myanmar) --- Ooredoo Myanmar and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) handed over IT equipment to the Department of Agriculture (DOA), Department of Agricultural Research (DAR) and Livestock Breeding and Veterinary Department (LBVD) under Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation and Department of Meteorology and Hydrology under Ministry of Transport and Communications for providing ICT enabled extension services to farmers.

Around 50 different IT equipment, such as desktops, laptops, projectors, tablets, cameras, printers, recorders and mobile rechargeable speakers, were provided as a part of the Sustainable Enterprises and Agricultural Development (SEAD) Project jointly supported by Ooredoo and UNDP.

The SEAD project aims to establish an inclusive and sustainable rural development model in Myanmar’s Dry Zone region, leveraging Ooredoo’s advanced mobile technology and UNDP’s experience in promoting climate resilient farming practices in the Dry Zone region of Myanmar.

These devices will be used for creating the agriculture and livestock advisories as well as weather forecast information, disseminating to farmers and breeders in the Dry Zone region through a mobile application and digital channels.

“We partnered with UNDP for SEAD Project in line with our vision of enriching people’s digital lives. Since the launch of the project, we have been taking initial steps to shape the intended sustainable rural development model. By supporting the required IT equipment to the responsible government departments, we expect to leverage on mobile technology to provide mobile ICT enabled extension services for the farmers and scale up their knowledge and efficiency according to the future digital trend” explained U Tint Naing Htut, Head of Corporate Communications of Ooredoo Myanmar.

Farmers will have access to quality extension advisories throughout the year and will benefit from a package of virtual services comprising good agricultural practices, good livestock husbandry practices, and timely weather forecasts. Training and resource materials will also be disseminated through webinars, podcasts and short demonstration videos via YouTube and social media channels.

Following the outbreak of COVID-19, the project undertook a needs assessment to better understand the impact of the pandemic on farmers in the project locations and assess their extension support and advisory needs. The findings of the assessment have been integrated into the design and content of the virtual advisories. The project also provided COVID19 affected farmers essential agricultural inputs.

“The project provides rural farmers with access to virtual real-time, quality extension and advisory services that can be accessed on their phones. With physical distancing and stay at home requirements in place because of COVID-19, physically accessing extension services would not be possible, so the new technology is more important than ever before. However, with available online app, farmers will be able to access these services without having to leave their homes and fields,” said Mr. Biplove Choudhary, Chief of the Sustainable and Inclusive Growth Unit, UNDP.  “We remain committed to work closely with the Government, and with DoA, DAR, and LBVD in particular, in responding to the impacts of the COVID-19 on rural farmers, breeders and fisherfolk across Myanmar,” he added.

As a next step, the project now intends to train key government departments’ staff in the use and management of the software including in the design and creation of advisories, production of webinars and online training programmes. They will also be trained in the maintenance of the equipment.

The project will help match supply with the demand for sustainable farming, and connect farmers to markets, and credit through the use of mobile money.

The project aims to benefit 130 villages in the Dry Zone Region of Myanmar, boosting the livelihoods of farmers.

For more information, please contact:

Ooredoo Communication Team

09973333322
czar@ooredoo.com.mm

UNDP Communications Team
09 4500 57730
si.thu.soe.moe@undp.org

About Ooredoo Myanmar

Ooredoo Myanmar was awarded a license to operate in Myanmar in June 2013. Ooredoo is now a leading provider of telecommunication services in Myanmar with the objective of “Enriching people’s digital lives”. Ooredoo Myanmar today has a range of life-enriching services for consumers to enterprise, government and SME customers. These services provide a platform for human growth and empowerment and are designed to help people achieve their full potential and businesses run more efficiently. Ooredoo Myanmar is committed to enriching the lives of Myanmar people through its products, services and CSR initiatives.

Website: www.ooredoo.com.mm

Instagram: @ooredoomyanmar

Facebook: www.facebook.com/OoredooMyanmar

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/ooredoomyanmar

About UNDP

UNDP is on the ground in more than 170 countries, providing global perspective and local insight, and technical assistance, policy advice and development support services. Our objective is to support countries to end extreme poverty, reduce inequality, and achieve the goals of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

In Myanmar, UNDP has been providing development assistance to the people of Myanmar since the 1950s. Today, UNDP in Myanmar is committed to the achievement of an ambitious agenda to support achievement of the 2030 Agenda and implementation of the SDGS by bring global best practices, international standards and working closely with partnerships, the UN system, Government and people of Myanmar to provide support to collectively deliver on the 2030 Agenda across Myanmar’s development, economic, and social and environmental priorities.

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Website: www.mm.undp.org