S06 · E20

Realizing Dreams through Affordable Farming Tools - Myanmar

Though Myanmar is an agricultural nation, with over 60% of the population engaged in farming, many rural villages lack vital infrastructure such as running water and electricity. Furthermore, decades of political unrest have left numerous farmers struggling to eke out a living from rented land. Set up 9 years ago in Yangon, Proximity Designs is an NPO that aims to support impoverished farming communities by offering affordable agricultural tools, as well as providing micro-finance loans. Much of the equipment they provide relates to irrigation, with treadle pumps and water storage tanks that save time and effort, enabling farmers to invest more time in other work for a staggering increase in yields. We follow the activities of this NPO working hand in hand with rural farmers to promote development in Myanmar.