Asia
1. Outline of the ProjectCountry:

Project title:

Myanmar

Seed Bank Project in the Union of Myanmar

Issue/Sector:

Cooperation scheme:

Agriculture

Project-type Technical Cooperation

Division in charge:

Total cost:

Livestock and Horticulture Division, Agricultural Development
Cooperation Department

541 Million Yen

Period of Cooperation

Partner Country's Implementing Organization:

1 June 1997 - 31 May 2002

Central Agriculture Research Institute (CARI)

Supporting Organization in Japan:
Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries
National Institute of Agro Biological Sciences

Related Cooperation:
Grant Aid; "Project for the Establishment of the Seed Bank"

1-1 Background of the Project
There are many precious plant genetic resources in Myanmar. In particular, it was suspected that many different types of wild
rice existed, but this had not been explored. Moreover, as a result of the spread of high yielding varieties in recent years,
cultivation of traditional varieties had decreased, which might result in the loss of genetic resources. Under the circumstance, in1986, the Myanmar Government requested Grant Aid and Technical Cooperation from the Japanese Government to support theSeed Bank Project aimed at collecting, characterizing, evaluating, and preserving and utilizing genetic resources.
The facility and its related equipment provided by the grant aid were delivered in February 1990, but the implementation oftechnical cooperation was suspended because of the turmoil in the political situation; i.e., the nation's armed forces suppressed
the democratic campaign; the military regime stayed in power even after losing in the general election in 1990. After the releaseof Ms Aung San Suu Kyi and signs of democratization, Japan resumed the suspended cooperation projects and other project
related to basic human needs. This Project, one of those, was launched on the 1st of June in 1997.

1-2 Project Overview
This Project provided machinery and materials, and transferred techniques to the staff of the Seed Bank through training inJapan and at the Project site. The purpose of these activities was (1) exploring and collecting, (2) classifying and evaluating, (3)preserving and multiplying, (4) managing the data of, and (5) establishing a system to exchange, "genetic resources andinformation".
(1) Overall Goal
Agricultural productivity and production in Myanmar are improved through plant breeding using genetic resources introduced in
the Project.
(2) Project Purpose
The system for genetic resources management, exploration and collection, classification and evaluation, preservation andmultiplication, data management of plant genetic resources, and exchange of genetic resources and information is establishedin the seed bank.

(3) Outputs
1) Acquiring knowledge and technologies for exploration and collection.
2) Acquiring knowledge and technologies for classification and evaluation.
3) Acquiring knowledge and technologies for preservation and multiplication.
4) Improving management and utilization of data.
5) Improving systems for the exchange of genetic resources and information.
(4) Inputs
Japanese side:
Long-term Experts

7Equipment

67 Million Yen

Short-term Experts

13

Local Cost

53 Million Yen

Trainees received

14Others

4 Million Yen

Myanmar side:Counterparts

32

Local Cost

8.066 Million Kyat (158 Million Yen)

2. Evaluation Team
Members of Evaluation
TeamTeam Leader: Noriaki NIWA, Director, Livestock and Horticulture Division, AgriculturalDevelopment Cooperation Department, JICA
Preservation and Multiplication/Classification and Evaluation: Tsukasa NAGAMINE, Head, Plant
genetic resources Lab., Genebank, National Institute of Aerobiological Sciences
Cooperation Evaluation: Katsumi YAMAGUCHI, Cooperation Coordinator, Technical Cooperation
Division, General Food Policy Bureau, ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries
PCM Evaluation: Yoshiaki NISHIKAWA, Associate Professor, Kurume University
Planning Evaluation: Makoto SHINKAWA, Livestock and Horticulture Division, AgriculturalDevelopment Cooperation Department, JICA

Period of Evaluation

21 October 2001 - 30 November 2001

Type of Evaluation:
Terminal Evaluation

3. Results of Evaluation
3-1 Summary of Evaluation Results(1) Relevance
The "Myanmar Agenda 21" based on the government policy of Myanmar, states the introduction of new crop varieties andcultural practices compatible with agro-ecological conditions in each area. The Seed Bank management system, which wasestablished in this Project, is an absolutely necessary step to utilize the genetic resources effectively. Hence, the Project
Purpose is consistent with the policy of the country.
Since the introduction of the Convention of Biological Diversity, the international environment in genetic resources has beenchanging rapidly. However, the Seed Bank is still the core in the conservation system for cultivated/wild species, and the system
to manage generic resources is necessary for future breeding work in the county. Therefore, the Seed Bank was suitable as theimplementing organization.
(2) EffectivenessThrough the Project, the counterparts and researchers of CARI recognized the importance of genetic resources in agricultural
usage and Myanmar's domestic situation of genetic resources. Almost all of the Outputs were achieved, as knowledge andinformation were transferred in areas of exploration and collection, classification and evaluation, preservation and multiplication,
data management of plant genetic resources, and exchange of genetic resources and information. The basic system for themanagement of the genetic resources was established in the Seed Bank. These indicate that the Project Purpose wasachieved.
(3) Efficiency
The dispatch of experts and their instruction were coordinated appropriately. The Myanmar side contributed well to the efficient
operation of the Project, selecting most of the counterparts from the full-time staff of the Seed Bank and making efforts to avoid
reshuffling them. On the other hand, there were some problems, too. As the technical cooperation was initiated seven years
after delivering the facilities with Grant Aid, both the building and the equipment had become old and damaged by the time ofthe launch of the Project. The equipment was not maintained properly due to the unstable supply of electricity and the shortageof technicians/engineers.
(4) Impact
Some of the genetic resources collected in the Project are considered to take a long time before they contribute to an increaseof BLB (Bacterial leaf blight) resistant species productivity. Therefore, the impact in terms of the Overall Goal has not beenachieved yet. However, there were a number of side-impacts, as follows:
1) The established management system of plant genetic resources has led to a better understanding of the importance ofconservation and utilization of plant genetic resources by officials concerned in Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation, particularlyin the Myanmar Agriculture Service. The necessity of establishing a national committee on Genetic Resources, which should becomprised of the members from the government agencies concerned and developing appropriate method of managing
resources, were recognized.
2) The preservation and multiplication works, which used to be conducted in each division of CARI, were transferred to the Seed
Bank. This reduced the workload and enabled them to concentrate on their own work.
3) There is an exchange of information between the staff of the Seed Bank and the staff and the students of Yezin Agricultural
University (YAU). The exploration has been carried out by the extension officers as well as by farmers. The recognition of theSeed Bank is spreading among people on various social levels.
(5) Sustainability
The established system of the Seed Bank is now able to provide the necessary service to the agricultural research institutes inMyanmar. It is considered that the Seed Bank has sufficient sustainability, because the Myanmar side was in charge of Projectcosts during the implementation of the Project, and the government also understands the significance of this Project. The
activities of the Seed Bank are expected to be activated even more, because establishment of the National Committee on Plant
Genetic Resources management is planned. The technical level of the staff was enhanced as planned, and it is necessary forthe government to secure the necessary budget and increase the number of the staff to maintain the seed bank. The Bank will
require attaining the necessary techniques through cooperation with other institutes such as CARI and YAU in the future.

3-2 Factors that promoted realization of effects(1) Factors concerning Planning
The Seed Bank is the only seed bank in Myanmar. It is an indispensable to making the effective use of genetic resources, and issuitable as the implementing organization.
(2) Factors concerning the Implementation Process
Myanmar had faced a political change, which delayed the launch of Technical Cooperation for over seven years after Grant Aid.
During these years, the Myanmar side maintained the facilities by itself. This experience fostered their confidence, which
contributed to Sustainability.

3-3 Factors that impeded realization of effects(1) Factors concerning Planning
N/A(2) Factors concerning the Implementation Process
It was difficult to gain information about recent research at the Project site, because it is inaccessible via the Internet, telephone
and fax, and there are a very limited number of books. The insufficient infrastructure for power supply also hindered Project
activities.

3-4 Conclusion
There was a delay in some parts of the Project, but the Project Purpose (to establish the basic management and operation
system for plant genetic resources management in the Seed Bank) will mostly be achieved within the Project period. To
encourage the sustainable management by the Myanmar side, the evaluation team concludes that it is appropriate to terminate
the Project in March 2002 as planned. Because the Government of Myanmar fully acknowledges the importance of the Seedbank, it is highly Sustainable.

3-5 Recommendations(1) In order to ensure cross-sectional management of the relevant research institutions, a national committee on planning
genetic resources management should be established immediately for the preservation, utilization and domestic and foreigntransfer of genetic resources.
(2) The Seed Bank should maintain the research collaboration with CARI and YAU, in order to keep and develop the Projectachievements, such as the evaluation of the BLB resistant rice plant.
(3) A research plan to breed resistant varieties should be formed.
(4) The situation of the instability of power supply and telecommunications should be improved, which is very important toensure appropriate operation of the Seed Bank.

3-6 Lessons Learned
It takes time for a research type cooperation project to affect the final beneficiaries, such as local farmers. In planning this kindof project, JICA should consider how to benefit the local people, who should the players, and what are their roles.

3-7 Follow-up Situation
N/A