Assessing on the Impacts of China Border Trade and CEMC Project on Farmers’ Livelihood Along Myanmar-China Border

Abstract

As China and Myanmar have historical relation since it shares common borders as neighbors. Likewise, Chinese and Myanmar ethnics especially along the border also create long bonding connection socially, economically and politically. Since 88’s crisis in Myanmar, the western countries imposed economic sanction to military junta. To resist and survive from the economic depression, Myanmar change the economic strategy and adopt open-door policy to focus on the land border trade with its neighbor countries rather than maritime trade. Subsequently, the expansion of the cash crop, border-crossing trade had been rapidly increased and the local business along border of the China-Myanmar was substituted according to the market demand. People shift from subsistence to cash cropping and border trade activities. However, the relationship between the two countries has been in intermittent situation and border trade policy changes and border control due to the political situation, border issue and the recent pandemic. Consequently, there are many impacts on corn farmers along the border. Therefore, this study aims to understand how trade policy changes influence agriculture transformation in Northern Shan State, assessing the impacts on local farmers and to propose the implication of policy recommendations to sustainable livelihood and economic development. The study found that uncertain border trade policy, lack of insurance policies for market and political unstable has hindered the local farmer and lead to livelihood instability. To address the Keywords: border trade, farmer, government, policy, market, transport, social, economic As China and Myanmar have historical relation since it shares common borders as neighbors. Likewise, Chinese and Myanmar ethnics especially along the border also create long bonding connection socially, economically and politically. Since 88’s crisis in Myanmar, the western countries imposed economic sanction to military junta. To resist and survive from the economic depression, Myanmar change the economic strategy and adopt open-door policy to focus on the land border trade with its neighbor countries rather than maritime trade. Subsequently, the expansion of the cash crop, border-crossing trade had been rapidly increased and the local business along border of the China-Myanmar was substituted according to the market demand. People shift from subsistence to cash cropping and border trade activities. However, the relationship between the two countries has been in intermittent situation and border trade policy changes and border control due to the political situation, border issue and the recent pandemic. Consequently, there are many impacts on corn farmers along the border. Therefore, this study aims to understand how trade policy changes influence agriculture transformation in Northern Shan State, assessing the impacts on local farmers and to propose the implication of policy recommendations to sustainable livelihood and economic development. The study found that uncertain border trade policy, lack of insurance policies for market and political unstable has hindered the local farmer and lead to livelihood instability. To address the issues, it requires a participatory approach, inclusiv