Terrace cultivation isn’t a new way of farming in some areas around the world, but in rural Myanmar, this method is not common practice. It can be labor-intensive to install and harvest, but the ultimate goal is to reduce soil erosion, improve soil quality, and use water more efficiently. Shanta implemented a pilot program in 2022 with five participating farmers in Khin Aye village. Their land is steep and hilly, not ideal for commercial farming.
In this region, hillside farms suffer from very poor soil that continuously erodes. Due to limited space, the farmers cannot afford to leave fields fallow to regenerate. After three years of farming, soil health degrades, reducing agricultural yields to the point of financial loss. The farms are ultimately abandoned, and the landowner has no choice but to resort to migrant work for a few years while their fields replenish nutrients.
U Htay Hlaing is a farmer who owns 10 acres but can only work two acres due to the fields being on a slope. Every year, he grows rice, groundnuts, and pigeon beans. Shanta initiated the Terrace Farming Project in his village in 2022 to conserve soil and boost soil fertility, creating a healthier and more profitable harvest. U Htay Hlaing is one of five farmers who took part in the initiative and trained in terrace farming. He terraced a one-acre field, recruited five laborers, and added 121 kg of cow dung over three days.
“It was difficult to believe we’d be successful because everyone said it wouldn’t work. But, while I was practicing, it wasn’t too difficult, except that the ridges required more work to plow. I am careful and aware and believe that terrace farming can help to conserve soil and promote soil fertility.”
“I discovered that a terrace can save soil moisture, which improves plant growth and strength.” Terrace farming raised the production of ground nuts from 1,300 kg to 1,960 kg. His field’s PH level increased from 4.4 to 5.2, and “I can now demonstrate to others the benefits of terrace farming. If I had discovered this strategy earlier, all of my fields would be ready to harvest. But it’s not too late to apply this to the other 8 acres of land, and I’m confident I’ll be able to do so.” U Htay Hlaing expressed his aspirations.
There are three additional farmers who are not project participants but have learned terrace farming from their peers. Increasing a few household incomes at a time in a small village positively affects the entire community. We love this model of educating a few, who then pass on that knowledge to their neighbors to multiply the impact of Shanta’s programming.
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