Fish for Livelihoods: 
The United States Agency for International 
Development (USAID) funded Fish for 
Livelihoods project aims to increase fish 
production, labor productivity, food 
availability, and fish consumption  
especially for women and children from 
vulnerable households. It provides 
opportunities for entrepreneurial activities 
in small-scale aquaculture systems and 
promotes social behavioral change 
messages that direct home production and 
market purchases towards nutritious-
conscious household decisions. 
Fish for Livelihoods is being implemented 
in five inland states and regions in Central 
and Northern Myanmar: Mandalay, 
Magway, Sagaing, Shan, and Kachin for a 
period of five years (October 2019 – 
September 2024). The project primarily 
targets small-scale aquaculture households 
(with small ponds <1 acre) and associated 
value chain actors. The project targets at 
least 10,000 individuals, mainly pond 
farmers and fish value chain market actors 
over 5 years of the project. 
Project Anticipated 
Results: 
Inclusive and sustainable aquaculture 
growth to improve nutrition and food 
security especially for reproductive-age 
women and children under five in central 
and northern Myanmar. 
IR 1: Production. Small-scale aquaculture 
production increased through improved and 
land and water use and increased access 
to information, high-quality inputs, and 
credit. 
IR 2: Increased access to food-safe fish 
and fish products in the markets. Access 
of Small-scale Aquaculture (SSA) farmers 
to domestic markets increased and a 
consistent supply of food-safe fish and fish 
products was ensured. 
IR 3: Improved nutrition, food safety, 
and WASH. Improved diet diversity and 
consumption of safe fish products and 
increased access to WASH packages 
especially for      women of      reproductive 
age and children under five. 
Figure 1. A woman showing Common carp 
harvested after 08 months from Tarlay 
townships, Shan, Myanmar. 
Fish for Livelihoods Newsletter
Issue 6, January - March 
2021
WorldFish Myanmar Office 
Tel:+950 1647 521 
Email:worldfish-myanmar@cgiar.org 
In partnership with 
Partial Harvesting of Fish: 
The partial harvesting was carried out in 
two villages in Taunggyi 
and Madaya townships of the      fish that 
was stocked in Year-1 (Oct 2019 – Sep 
2020). In 
Inn Kone village, Madaya, Rohu species 
were harvested. The weight of the fish 
ranges from 500 to 650 grams and the 
price was noted as 2200 MMK per Viss. 
Similarly, in Naung Boke village, Taunggyi, 
grass carp species were harvested. The 
partial harvesting is a positive sign that the 
fish that were      stocked amid the COVID-
19 pandemic      yielded from     
production. Initial harvesting is encouraging 
and a healthy sign towards increased 
production in the ponds where the activity 
stocked fish in the year-1. This production 
and subsequent income would be amongst 
one of the key achievements envisaged in 
the activity objectives. 
Figure 2. Farmers harvesting fish at 
Taunggyi.  
Designing for Behavior 
Change Training:  
USAID’s Fish for Livelihoods activity held 
an online capacity building training for 
community facilitators, team leaders, 
WorldFish M&E team, IEC and Training 
Coordinator, and Field Coordinators from 
11th to 15th January. The training was 
facilitated by Dr. Saw Eden, Nutrition 
Advisor, Save the Children. The training; 1) 
built the capacity of the participants in 
analyzing components of the Designing for 
Behavior Change (DBC) framework, 2) 
developed the skills of participants to 
assess data from Barrier Analysis or Doer/ 
Non-Doer study to identify bridges of 
activities, and 3) applied DBC framework in 
the participants’ programs and developed 
strategies based on formative research 
results. The training served as an 
introduction to the forthcoming barrier 
analysis study that the      Fish for 
Livelihoods      project team and partners 
will conduct in 2021. Moreover, the training 
helped in identifying the behaviors and the 
priority group to study that will lead to a 
higher likelihood of adopting positive 
nutrition and WASH behaviors improving 
health and nutrition among project 
participants. 
Brood-stock categorization 
in a hatchery for the trial: 
In a newly established Tilapia Hatchery at 
Kyone Ywar village, Madaya Township, 
Mandalay, 2,250 broodstock were 
segregated based on the sex amongst 
male and female. In aggregate, 2,250 
(male = 1,143, female = 1,107) broodstock 
was selected. They were separated as 
male within 10 hapas and female within 10 
hapas. At the time of segregation, the fish 
weight was 100 g and the feeding rate was 
2.5%. In the future, the application of 10 g 
Vitamin C in 1 kg of feed (mixing 
procedure, dilute first 10g Vit-C in 200 ml 
water for 1 kg feed and then evenly spread 
over the feed through a sprayer) will be 
applied which will help reduce cold stress 
and develop mature eggs.      This 
segregation will help to prevent; 1)      Early 
mating between male and female, 2) 
Stock the male and female with a proper 
ratio in hapas and, 3) C     ollect fertilized 
eggs from the hapas instead of losing them 
if they bred in an open pond. 
WorldFish Myanmar Office 
Tel:+950 1647 521 
Email:worldfish-myanmar@cgiar.org 
In partnership with 
Promotion of Genetically 
Improved Farmed Tilapia 
(GIFT)     :
A contract between WorldFish and a 
private hatchery in Kyone Ywar village, 
Madaya Township, Mandalay was signed 
on February 02, 2021, to establish a 
Genetically Improved Farm Tilapia (GIFT) 
hatchery. The owner of the hatchery was 
very keen to establish the Tilapia hatchery 
in the area because there is a huge 
demand around Mandalay city. Currently, 
there is no private hatchery in the area and 
the fish culture farmers always rely on the 
Department of Fisheries (DoF) hatchery 
which is more than 20 miles away from the 
Kyone Ywar village. The establishment of a 
private hatchery in Madaya township will 
immediately benefit project participants 
from seven (07) villages, and other farmers 
from 20 villages in the peripheries. The 
access to quality fish seeds produced from 
the hatchery will save the cost and time of 
the farmers and, ultimately results in 
improved tilapia production in Madaya 
township and else in Myanmar. 
Hygiene kits provision to 
Orphanage school, Bamaw 
Township, Kachin: 
“Fish for Livelihoods” field team along with 
an Implementing Partner’s (IP) staff visited 
an orphanage school on January 22, 2021, 
in Bamaw Township, Kachin.      The 
activity provided 93 (Male=55, Female=38) 
hygiene kits to orphanage students. Each 
of the      hygiene kits contains three types 
of soap, toothpaste, toothbrush, towel, 
slipper, and sanitation pads for the girls. In 
addition to this, Information Education and 
Communication (IEC) materials on good 
hygiene practices were handed over to the 
students to promote the importance of 
handwashing with soap in critical times and 
using toilets when defecating. This will 
have positive health implications on their 
routine hygiene practices and, it will lead to 
positive behavior change and eventually 
towards healthy adult life.  
Training of Trainer (ToT) on 
Small Scale Aquaculture 
(SSA) and Nutrition: 
     Fish for Livelihoods      field team and 
an agriculture consultant delivered 
refresher ToT on Small Scale Aquaculture, 
nutrition, pond-dike cropping to IPs staff 
in Nyaung Shwe Town, Southern Shan 
state in January 28-29, 2021. A total of 16 
(Male=6, Female=10) field staff from 
Implementing Partners; KMSS, BRAC, 
MFF, and Inlay Lake Committee attended 
the session in person. One of the 
representatives of WorldFish can be seen 
delivering session in the figure-3. 
The capacity of the staff has been 
improved as a result of ToT delivered in 
year 1, and now with this 
refresher ToT, they got an opportunity to 
further their knowledge and skills on SSA, 
WASH, nutrition, and dike cropping. This 
will help to boost their confidence when 
they would deliver training sessions to the 
farmers and meet them at the field. 
Figure 3. A Field Team Member delivering 
a ToT session. 
WorldFish Myanmar Office 
Tel:+950 1647 521 
Email:worldfish-myanmar@cgiar.org 
In partnership with 
SSA and Nutrition Key 
Messages training to the 
farmers (In-person training 
in the village):
Training sessions on small-scale 
aquaculture SSA, WASH, nutrition, and 
dike cropping were conducted from 
January 19 to 23, 2021 in Tar Lay 
and Mong Hpyat townships. A total of 104 
(male=85 and female=19) from 
San Pya Kachin, Par Tun, Phoe Tar, Wan 
San, and Ma An Khan villages attended 
these sessions. It is assumed that farmers 
gained knowledge on SSA, nutrition, 
WASH, and dike cropping systems through 
these capacity-building training. They are 
going to apply these newly learned 
techniques to their ponds, pond dykes, and 
eating habits. Eventually, farmers will be 
benefited through increased fish and 
vegetable production, income, and 
consumption of nutritious diets. 
Figure 4. A Field team member delivering 
SSA training sessions to the Farmers. 
Theory of Change (ToC) 
and Monitoring & 
Evaluation (M&E) workshop 
with IPs: 
A virtual workshop on Theory of Change 
(ToC) and M&E was organized on 
Wednesday, February 24, 2021. This 
workshop aims to refresh key Implementing 
Partner (IP) staff members’ knowledge on 
the      Fish for Livelihoods      ToC, M&E 
tools, activity MEL plan, indicators, and 
reporting mechanisms. The workshop was 
attended by 39 (24 Male, 15 Female) 
participants including the      Fish for 
Livelihoods      WorldFish team members. 
The M&E workshop refreshed activity and 
IP senior staff knowledge on activity’s ToC, 
goals, objectives, and indicators. The 
internal reporting flow and reporting 
mechanism by and between WorldFish and 
IPs were discussed and roles and 
responsibilities to either end were 
communicated clearly to all. The workshop 
helped WorldFish and IPs to become more 
familiar and productive with reporting, data 
management, and M&E. 
Htwet Toe (mobile 
application) training 
session for WorldFish and 
IP team: 
On February 4, 2021, a training session, 
arranged by the Htwet Toe training team, 
delivered to WorldFish and IP staff. There 
were 41 participants (Men=21, Women=20) 
and the trainer was Ko Aung Kyaw Zin Myo 
from Village Link (also known as Htwet 
Toe). The training was held in two separate 
shifts, morning and evening, to 
accommodate field staff to adjust their 
schedule. The field staff inculcated the 
same knowledge, acquired from this 
training session to the farmers and would 
brief them on how to install and use the 
Htwet Toe mobile App, how to access and 
enhance their knowledge on SSA, and 
WASH, and how they can make a call to a 
call center representative from Htwet Toe 
to ask questions and inquire about SSA, 
WASH, and other “Fish for Livelihoods” 
interventions. The      aquaculture technical 
team from WorldFish always helps with 
these questions and provides the answer 
weekly to Htwet Toe representative. 
WorldFish Myanmar Office 
Tel:+950 1647 521 
Email:worldfish-myanmar@cgiar.org 
In partnership with 
International Day of Women 
and Girls in Science 
(February 11, 2021):
WorldFish Myanmar office has participated 
in the global campaign launched by the 
WorldFish to celebrate the ‘International 
day of      Women and      Girls in 
Science.’ Two emerging and young female 
scientists, one associated partially with the 
Fish for Livelihoods activity was highlighted 
through the blog on social media as part of 
the global campaign. The blog highlighted 
the research of young scientists that has 
been conducted so far in Myanmar within 
the fisheries sector. It was published on the 
WorldFish global website.      It reflects the 
WorldFish Myanmar country office's 
commitment to the inclusion of young 
female scientists in our research and 
development works. One of the blogs can     
be accessed at; 
https://blog.worldfishcenter.org/2021/03/em
erging-scientist-yee-mon-aung/ 
Figure 5. Farmers harvesting fish. 
Fish      seed distribution to 
Year-2 farmers in Ho Pong 
township, Southern Shan: 
In the third week of February, one of the 
IPs, the Myanmar fisheries Federation 
(MFF) distributed fish seed in Ho Pong 
township. A total of 19,000 fish seeds 
(12,000 common carp and 7,000 grass 
carp) was bought from a private hatchery 
which was also supported by the Fish for 
Livelihood activity in Nyaung Shwe. The 
fish seed was distributed to the 21 new 
project participants - grow-out farmers. The 
newly identified SSA farmers, participants, 
received quality fish seed with the support 
of the project and it stocked in the grow-out 
ponds. The seeds are of good quality with 
large size, the farmer could harvest the fish 
and likely to get more profit in a shorter 
cycle compared to the last year. 
Figure 6. A farmer weighing fish captured 
from his pond.  
Fish      feed production in 
Taunggyi, Southern Shan: 
On February 23, 2021, a total of 
100 Viss (approximately 160 Kilos) fish 
feed were produced using locally available 
ingredients at an activity-supported feed 
mill in Taunggyi. Fish feed was sold at an 
affordable price to four (04) project farmers 
in Nam Sang. The feed production 
business is a new business for the feed 
miller and is generating more income for 
the owner. The owner earned 110,000 
Kyats (MMK) from selling the feed. There 
are many small-scale fish farmers in 
Taunggyi and nearby townships who 
cannot afford to buy the commercial feed. 
There is a good potential to produce 
affordable quality feed and distribute it to 
the farmer in the area. Quality feed applied 
in activity-supported ponds will eventually 
WorldFish Myanmar Office 
Tel:+950 1647 521 
Email:worldfish-myanmar@cgiar.org 
In partnership with 
result in increased production and income 
for the farmers. 
Small Indigenous Fish 
Species (SIS) partial 
harvesting practical on-
farm training:  
Figure 7. SIS Partial Harvesting in 
fishpond supported by the USAID 
intervention. 
 SIS partial harvesting practical training 
to five (05) staff of IP, KMSS was 
conducted on March 04, 2021. It took 
place at Wan Latt village, Kart Tai 
Tract, Kengtung Township. The trainer 
followed the SIS partial harvesting 
guideline pamphlet which was 
distributed to all farmers and the staff. 
The technique of harvesting SIS is very 
convenient because the farmers need 
not go down to the pond water and 
harvest the fish. It is very useful and 
less laborious work for women and can 
be done without support from other 
family members once a gill net is 
installed on homestead ponds. Field 
Coordinators trained IP staff on how to 
catch SIS and demonstrated several 
times as a part of the training course. 
Each demonstration time they 
harvested between 20 grams to 100 
grams of SIS. This training was 
provided to IP staff and they had a plan 
to replicate it with the farmers. The staff 
gained knowledge on how to partially 
harvest SIS and what are the nutritional 
benefits of eating SIS. When the 
farmers get this training and they apply 
the learned technique, this will be 
beneficial to Households. When 
children under 5 years of age and 
women of reproductive age consume 
SIS whole (with head and bones intact) 
frequently, they will be benefited 
nutritionally because SIS contains 
Vitamin A, Vitamin B12Calcium, Iron, 
Zinc, and essential fatty acids that are 
needed for growth and development. 
Sharing experience of 
Fedwell Foods, Myanmar, 
and Danish Care Foods, 
Cambodia: 
During the first week of March, the Fish 
for Livelihoods activity conducted an 
online meeting with the managers of 
Danish Care Foods and Fedwell Foods. 
The main aim is to link Fedwell Foods 
with Danish Care Foods to learn from 
Danish Care Foods’ experience when 
developing therapeutic fish-based 
products in Cambodia 
https://fish.cgiar.org/impact/stories-of-
change/nutrix-big-reach-small-fish-
nourishing-cambodia. The meeting 
helped Fedwell foods on coming up 
with simple marketing strategies and on 
which products they should focus their 
effort and time on before the 
partnership with the Fish for Livelihoods 
activity ends. Also, after the initial 
meeting, Fedwell foods can directly 
communicate with Danish Care Foods 
for further questions related to product 
development and creative business 
strategies that can support in making 
the products with dried fish powder 
available at the local market in 
Myanmar. 
WorldFish Myanmar Office 
Tel:+950 1647 521 
Email:worldfish-myanmar@cgiar.org 
In partnership with 
Fish seeds distribution to 
Nursery Farmers in Kachin: 
The Fish for Livelihoods activity, with 
the support from MFF Kachin, 
distributed fish seeds to targeted 
nursery farmers on March 10-11, 2021. 
A total of 370,000 fingerlings (Tilapia = 
110,000, Common carp = 95,000, and 
Rohu = 165,000) were distributed to 
four (04) farmers across different 
villages in Myitkyina, Moegong, 
Bamaw, and Waimaw Townships. The 
size of the fish seeds varies from 1 to 2 
inches. The farmers will nurse these 
seeds for 3 to 4 months until the time of 
the monsoon onset, then the nursery 
farmers can sell bigger and improved 
quality fingerlings at a higher price.  
Nursery farmers and their families are 
intended to benefit from the provision of 
fish seeds. Farmers were satisfied with 
the activity’s assistance and assured 
their cooperation in the future. The 
farmers and their families are expecting 
to get more income from their nursery 
ponds within a few months and, will 
provide quality fish seeds to grow-out 
farmers in Kachin state. 
Training on      good      post-
harvest practices for fresh 
fish vendors in Pekhon: 
Despite the challenging situation that 
prevails in-country, on 11th & 
12th March 2021, Fish for Livelihoods 
delivered an online training to 11 
participants through Asper 
Consulting company to selected fresh 
fish vendors, staff from KMSS Pekhon, 
and the WorldFish field team. The key 
topics discussed in the training 
included; 1) Good Post-Harvest 
Practices = Good Business, 2) Quality 
Fish is in Your Hands, 3) Ice for Profit, 
4) Clean and Attractive Work Places for
Good Business, and 5) Roles of
facilitator and facilitation techniques.
Aside from improving fresh fish
vendor's food safety practices, the
training aimed to build their capacity to
become facilitators so they can provide
training to other vendors in their area
without the support from NGOs and
other projects. The training provided
detailed information on how to facilitate
and best use the manual of the      good
post-harvest practices for fresh fish
trading. The topics learned will help
fresh fish vendors improve the quality of
their fresh fish leading to improve
income and enhancing their ability to
provide safe and fresh fish for
consumption among local consumers
which are the ultimate objectives of the
Fish for Livelihoods activity.
Post-coup challenges being 
faced by the activity staff 
and IPs: 
The months of February and March 
were the first two months post-coup. 
Some of the challenges IPs facing 
include; restricted field movements, 
delivering training, data collection, 
carrying equipment and materials (e.g., 
laptops, cameras, GIS kit) in the field as 
those might be confiscated. Also, in 
some of the townships, villagers 
discouraged field staff to hold group 
activities in an open area because of 
section 144 imposed by the police in 
many townships, no one taking 
responsibility for the village committee 
due to the fracture political system, and 
the staff was not allowed to work in 
their field offices because the 
community coerces them to observe 
civil disobedience movement (CDM) in 
solidarity with the pro-democracy 
WorldFish Myanmar Office 
Tel:+950 1647 521 
Email:worldfish-myanmar@cgiar.org 
In partnership with 
protestors. In some of the townships, 
IPs were able to implement activities as 
planned because there’s not much 
turbulence. There is a consensus that 
in future activities will be conducted 
only if the situation allows and the 
safety and security of staff members 
and project participants are ensured.  
For more information about the activity 
and to access communication products 
and material, please visit the link given 
below; 
https://www.worldfishcenter.org/project/fish
-livelihoods
WorldFish Myanmar Office 
Tel:+950 1647 521 
Email:worldfish-myanmar@cgiar.org 
In partnership with