In rural Myanmar, farmers are extremely vulnerable to changing commodity prices. Selling crops at harvest time is a bad idea because the supply is high and the selling price is low.
However, farmers are often forced to sell at harvest time because they have no way of storing the crops for longer periods. As a result, they end up with very little profit and even less to live on. Escalating debt and loss of land to money lenders ensues. Farmers are forced to work on their own land as debt slaves for corporate companies. This is called debt slavery.
Circuit in collaboration with the Love Conquers All Foundation has established an innovative grain storage facility to enable safe storage of the crops.
Where possible, we buy grain from the communities at a good rate for the farmer.
After the grain is dried it is transferred to grain saver bags which store the grain long-term. Circuit then sells the grain when the price increases and profits are used to expand the programme. Sometimes in can take months or years for prices to change and the project to make money. In 2021 we are experiencing a very fluctuating economy, which means we are able to buy and sell quickly. In 2019 we had to store for two years! In 2021 we are sometimes buying and selling in a matter of months.
Grain saver bags from Europe provide an affordable, efficient alternative to the expensive, steel storage. Successful worldwide, Circuit is the first organisation in Myanmar to introduce this technology to Myanmar.
This programme works in tandem with our New Hope Seed Banks programme to free farmers from debt slavery.
With your help we can continue providing innovative solutions to difficult problems.
Circuit assisted our implementing partner to import a grain bagger from Europe. This is used every year to store grain to head off pricing lows. These bags are hermetically sealed and within the bag pathogens are unable to grow. They are completely organic and gaining popularity because chemicals are not needed.
Meet Nang Hla Khin and Nang Noung Noung
Nang Hla Khin (19) and Nang Noung Noung (25) were very poor. Desperate to make ends meet, the two friends were planning on going to Thailand to find jobs. It was likely that they would have been trafficked or forced to work dangerous or illegal jobs, like many other women migrant workers from Myanmar.
Circuit worked with their community to start a Seed Bank. This kept their families are out of debt. Today, 4 years later, both women are happily married with children, and connected with their families.