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CEO UPDATE: Future Food for Myanmar is Dependent on Planting Rice Now
 Global Aid Network’s CEO, Duane Zook, traveled to Myanmar to assess our Cyclone Nargis relief work in six villages there, and to make plans for continuing assistance efforts. Mr. Zook was able to travel by boat into some of these remote delta locations to see the situation firsthand and to learn of the most critical needs that exist currently.
Myanmar and particularly the Irrawaddy Delta area of the country is the “rice bowl” of Southeast Asia. Before Cyclone Nargis hit Myanmar, one would not associate this country with rice shortages or starvation. Myanmar was the seventh largest producer of rice in the world, harvesting 25.2 million tons of rice in 2007. But many, if not most of the rice farmers use water buffalo in the cultivation, planting and harvest of their rice crops. As a result of the sweeping tidal wave produced by Cyclone Nargis, most of the water buffalo were killed.
 Because of the loss of the water buffalo and oxen, one of the most critical ongoing needs is for the provision of small, simple tractor/tillers to assist farmers to once again become productive toward planting and cultivating the fields. During Zook’s time in Myanmar, over and over again this need was presented to him.
Duane shared that he learned of many needs--financial needs toward shipping containers of aid, the need for materials to rebuild homes and schools, as well as for water filtration systems and other means of providing clean drinking water—all important, but the ability survive and provide food in the future depends on farmers' ability to plant, cutlivate and harvest crops once again.
Global Aid Network Seeks to Provide Solution in Six Villages:
As an example, Duane learned that for about $2,000 it is possible to purchase and provide a simple tractor that is very much like an over-sized, motorized tiller. These are available and Global Aid Network would like to provide a minimum of 5 of these tractors in each of the six villages where this ministry is focusing its assistance efforts. Therefore, to provide 30 tractors, $60,000 is needed to provide for the purchase and delivery of these farming implements. Tractors like this may make the difference between unemployment or even starvation for many or the ability to plant crops and continue to cultivate and bring in the harvest.
Global Aid Network’s Disaster Assistance Relief Teams endeavor to adhere to the Code of Conduct for the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement and Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) in Disaster Relief and are committed to the Humanitarian Charter and Minimum Standards in Disaster Response (Sphere) in delivering assistance to the most vulnerable.
If you desire to make a contribution to help with the urgent emergency disaster needs in Myanmar, please make a contribution through our Disaster Relief Fund.
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