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With research staff from more than 70 countries, and offices across the globe, IFPRI provides research-based policy solutions to sustainably reduce poverty and end hunger and malnutrition in developing countries.

researcher spotlight

Lilia Bliznashka

Lily Bliznashka is a Research Fellow in the Nutrition, Diets, and Health Unit. Her research focuses on assessing the effectiveness of multi-input nutrition-sensitive and nutrition-specific interventions and the mechanisms through which they work to improve maternal and child health and nutrition globally. She has worked in Burkina Faso, Burundi, Tanzania, and Uganda.

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TOPIC

Agriculture Production

Sustainable food production is critical to meeting growing global food needs amid climate change and natural resource scarcity. It is also the starting point for a shift toward sustainable, equitable food systems. But in many developing countries, underinvestment in agricultural production means that productivity and farmer incomes remain low, with negative impacts on rural development. Lack of knowledge, capital, labor, or other resources can lead to degradation of the natural resources that support agricultural production. As a result, food production is vulnerable to natural and socioeconomic shocks.

Evidence shows that sound and sustained investment in agriculture, especially in research and development, is key to increasing agricultural productivity, reducing poverty, and fostering economywide growth. Yet many developing countries give little consideration to agricultural science and technology in their national development plans.

… read more

IFPRI’s research examines emerging technologies and policy innovations designed to meet global food needs sustainably and equitably. Our researchers consider innovations in natural resource management, climate and energy policies, mechanization and digital options, biosafety systems for biotechnology, agricultural diversity, property rights, and collective action that can lead to improved food production and sustainability.

With proven innovations in hand, improvements in agricultural extension can lead to greater adoption of productivity-enhancing technologies. Work on nutrition and value chain development can help to build demand for diverse agricultural products. IFPRI’s foresight research helps to identify future threats to food production and security and ensure that scarce budgetary resources are directed toward sustainable development investments that achieve the greatest impact.

IFPRI’s agriculture production research is closely aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including SDG 1, SDG 2, SDG 7, SDG 8, SDG 10, SDG 13, and SDG 15. It also aligns with the CGIAR Impact Areas on Climate Adaptation and Mitigation; Environmental Health and Biodiversity; Nutrition, Health, and Food Security; and Poverty Reduction, Livelihoods, and Jobs.

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topics

Publications

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Data Paper

Myanmar Agricultural Performance Survey Round Eight: Note on Sample Characteristics and Weighting

2026van Asselt, Joanna; Aung, Zin Wai; Ei Win, Hnin
Details

Myanmar Agricultural Performance Survey Round Eight: Note on Sample Characteristics and Weighting

The Myanmar Agricultural Performance Survey (MAPS) is a nationally and sub-nationally representative phone survey that collects bi-annual data on agricultural indicators, including crop production and sales, input use, crop marketing, farm and livestock assets, and farm services. MAPS is a sub-sample of the Myanmar Household Welfare Survey (MHWS), a nationally and sub-nationally representative phone survey that collects bi-annual data on household and individual welfare indicators, including poverty, food security, dietary quality, subjective wellbeing, and coping strategies. This note covers the eighth round of MAPS. Rounds 1, 3, 5, and 8 were conducted between January and March of 2022 and 2026 and collect recall data on monsoon production. Rounds 2, 4, 6, and 7 were conducted between June and October of 2022 and 2025 and collect recall data on dry season production (post/pre-monsoon season). In this note, we provide details on the data collection and sample characteristics of the eighth-round of MAPS. First, we briefly describe the modules present in MAPS data. Second, we discuss the household sampling design of MHWS and each MAPS round and the differences between the datasets. Third, we discuss the calculation of weights for MAPS and provide descriptives of the weighted sample. Most comparisons throughout the paper are between MAPS round 5 and MAPS round 8 because both surveys were carried out for the monsoon season.

Year published

2026

Authors

van Asselt, Joanna; Aung, Zin Wai; Ei Win, Hnin

Citation

van Asselt, Joanna; Aung, Zin Wai; Ei Win, Hnin. 2026. Myanmar Agricultural Performance Survey Round Eight: Note on Sample Characteristics and Weighting. Data Paper. Washington, DC: International Food Policy Research Institute. https://hdl.handle.net/10568/183271

Country/Region

Myanmar

Keywords

Eastern Asia; Asia; Household Surveys; Data; Rural Areas; Farmers; Welfare; Agricultural Production

Language

English

Access/Licence

Open AccessCC-BY-4.0

Source

Source record

Record type

Data Paper

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Journal Article

Youth in relation to agroecology: practices, promises, and perceptions in five countries

2026Rietveld, Anne; Guettou Djurfeldt, Nadia; Shijagurumayum, Meghajit; Gupta, Shweta; Tristán Febres, Maria Claudia; Chimonyo, Vimbayi Grace Petrova; Nehring, Ryan; Murugani, Vongai Gillian; Idoudi, Zied; Singh, Sonali
Details

Youth in relation to agroecology: practices, promises, and perceptions in five countries

In the context of rising youth populations in many low- and middle-income countries, coupled with high youth unemployment and aging farmer populations, this paper asks in what ways agroecology, as a sustainable alternative to the conventional agricultural practices and paradigm, attracts youth to farming and rural-based livelihoods. We draw on empirical data from semi-structured interviews and photovoice conducted with young women and men in five countries: Kenya, India, Peru, Tunisia, and Zimbabwe. In our discussion, we highlight which dimensions and aspects of agroecology resonate with youth and why.

Year published

2026

Authors

Rietveld, Anne; Guettou Djurfeldt, Nadia; Shijagurumayum, Meghajit; Gupta, Shweta; Tristán Febres, Maria Claudia; Chimonyo, Vimbayi Grace Petrova; Nehring, Ryan; Murugani, Vongai Gillian; Idoudi, Zied; Singh, Sonali

Citation

Rietveld, A., Guettou-Djurfeldt, N., Shijagurumayum, M., Gupta, S., Tristán, M., Chimonyo, V., Nehring, R., Murugani, V., Idoudi, Z., & Singh, S. (2025). Youth in relation to agroecology: practices, promises, and perceptions in five countries. Agroecology and Sustainable Food Systems 50(6): 1348-1381. https://doi.org/10.1080/21683565.2025.2573791

Country/Region

Kenya; India; Peru; Tunisia; Zimbabwe

Keywords

Eastern Africa; Southern Asia; Latin America; Northern Africa; Southern Africa; Rural Youth; Agroecology; Agriculture; Rural Development; Labour; Livelihoods

Language

English

Access/Licence

Open AccessCC-BY-NC-ND-4.0

Links

https://doi.org/10.1080/21683565.2025.2573791 Source record

Project

Agroecology

Record type

Journal Article

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Working Paper

Farm commercialization and farm services: Myanmar Agricultural Performance Survey (monsoon 2025)

2026Ei Win, Hnin; Minten, Bart
Details

Farm commercialization and farm services: Myanmar Agricultural Performance Survey (monsoon 2025)

This Working Paper presents findings from an assessment of farm commercialization and farm services during the 2025 monsoon. The analysis is based on data from the Myanmar Agriculture Performance Survey (MAPS), a phone-based survey conducted with 4,553 crop farmers across all states/regions of the country during Q1 of 2026. Our findings reveal the following: Insecurity continues to affect farming, as reflected in the substantial share of farmers who feel unsafe and report being unable to move freely to buy inputs or sell outputs without serious concerns for their safety. Twenty-three percent of farmers reported feeling “very insecure” or “insecure” during the survey period. Additionally, 7 percent reported that some agricultural fields in their area could not be cultivated due to conflict. Furthermore, 9 percent of farmers expressed fear of storing produce at home because of the risk of confiscation or destruction. Despite challenges related to fuel and mobility, agricultural inputs were largely available during the monsoon, reflecting the resilience of the private sector in supplying these goods even under difficult conditions. However, labor scarcity is becoming more pronounced, seemingly linked to migration and insecurity. Input prices continued to rise, with fertilizer prices increasing by 24 percent compared to two years earlier. Other input costs, including mechanization and wages, increased even more. On the output side, prices for paddy—grown by 64 percent of all farmers during the monsoon—fell over the last two years, leading to reduced investments and lower agricultural productivity. Other crops linked to export markets also experienced price declines or only moderate increases over the same period, including pigeon pea (-18 percent) and maize (+28 percent), compared to much larger increases for more domestically consumed crops such as tomato (+178 percent), betel nut (+75 percent), and betel leaves (+43 percent). Most farmers reported either stabilization or worsening of agricultural sales income compared to the previous monsoon. Thirty-nine percent of farmers reported lower incomes in the 2025 monsoon season than in the previous monsoon, with 22 percent experiencing declines of more than 20 percent. Only 30 percent reported an increase in sales income. The use of agricultural credit during the 2025 monsoon continued its decline, falling from 47 percent of farmers in 2021 to 38 percent in 2025—a decrease of 9 percentage points. This decline occurred across all agro-ecological zones except the Delta. Access to agricultural extension services remained at levels similar to previous years, with 35 percent of farmers accessing some type of extension service. Security challenges continue to hinder crop commercialization in Myanmar. Conditions vary across states and regions, with the Delta—the country’s rice bowl—experiencing relatively better security conditions. Farmers in conflict-affected areas face greater obstacles to commercialization, including reduced availability of agricultural inputs.

Year published

2026

Authors

Ei Win, Hnin; Minten, Bart

Citation

Ei Win, Hnin; and Minten, Bart. 2026. Farm commercialization and farm services: Myanmar Agricultural Performance Survey (monsoon 2025). Myanmar SSP Working Paper 79. Washington, DC: International Food Policy Research Institute. https://hdl.handle.net/10568/183097

Country/Region

Myanmar

Keywords

Asia; South-eastern Asia; Commercialization; Agricultural Sector; Surveys; Wet Season; Prices; Marketing

Language

English

Access/Licence

Open AccessCC-BY-4.0

Source

Source record

Record type

Working Paper

Blogs

When climate shocks reduce harvests, children pay the price: Evidence from Nigeria
Research Post
 | 
June 05, 2026

When climate shocks reduce harvests, children pay the price: Evidence from Nigeria

By Mulubrhan Amare and Bedru Balana

The pathway from climate change to child nutrition and health.

The case for tackling multiple constraints for smallholder farmers: Evidence from Malawi
Research Post
 | 
June 01, 2026

The case for tackling multiple constraints for smallholder farmers: Evidence from Malawi

By Kate Ambler, Alan de Brauw, and Susan Godlonton

Cash or in-kind transfers and extension services work better together.

Reducing ozone pollution can offset the food security cost of climate action
Research Post
 | 
May 15, 2026

Reducing ozone pollution can offset the food security cost of climate action

By Abhijeet Mishra, Timothy Sulser, Keith Wiebe, and Eleanor Jones

Uncovering an additional benefit of mitigation.

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Events

Agricultural trade at a crossroads with Latin American, Caribbean, and African Perspectives for Post-MC14
IFPRI Policy Seminar

 | 

June 30, 2026, 9:00 – 11:00 am

Agricultural trade at a crossroads with Latin American, Caribbean, and African Perspectives for Post-MC14

This event will be livestreamed in English on this page. Live interpretation in Spanish and French will be available via Zoom. Additional details will be provided closer to the event. Please type your questions into the chat box with name, affiliation, and country. The event video, presenter slides, and podcast will be available in the […]

Inequality within and outside the household: Reflections from Agnes Quisumbing's career
IFPRI Policy Seminar

 | 

June 24, 2026, 10:00 – 11:30 am

Inequality within and outside the household: Reflections from Agnes Quisumbing’s career

Also streaming on Please type your questions into the chat box with name, affiliation, and country. The event video, presenter slides, and podcast will be available in the days following the event. Throughout a career spanning more than four decades, Agnes Quisumbing has made major contributions to research on intrahousehold allocation, poverty and economic mobility, […]

Weather, Money, and Shifting Bets: What’s Driving Food Commodity Markets?
IFPRI Policy Seminar

 | 

June 23, 2026, 9:30 – 11:00 am

Weather, Money, and Shifting Bets: What’s Driving Food Commodity Markets?

Please type your questions into the chat box with name, affiliation, and country. The event video, presenter slides, and podcast will be available in the days following the event. Global food commodity markets are entering a new phase in which traditional indicators may no longer provide a clear view of market dynamics. While supply conditions […]

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News

June 05, 2026 | In the News

West Asia crisis: Why India needs a fertiliser security strategy (The Economic Times)

The Economic Times (India) published an op-ed by Barun Deb Pal and Anjani Kumar, IFPRI South Asia Office, and Smita Sirohi, ICAR-National Professor, MS Swaminathan Chair.

November 28, 2024 | Press Release

New paper calls for harnessing agrifood value chains to help farmers be climate-smart

The global food system is uniquely vulnerable to climate impacts, making adaptation of paramount importance.

February 11, 2024 | In the News

Agricultural growth key to accelerated poverty reduction in Bangladesh (Financial Express)

Senior research fellow and country representative, Akhter Ahmed writes in an op-ed for the Financial Express (Bangladesh) that the country “has witnessed substantial economic growth over the past decade, with an average annual gross domestic product (GDP) growth of 6.6 per cent between 2016 and 2022. Notably, the country experienced a 3.4 per cent increase in GDP in 2020, making Bangladesh one […]

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Projects

True Value of Food

True Value of Food

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Ensuring Inclusiveness, Sustainability, and Efficiency of Food System Transformation in the ASEAN and BIMSTEC countries

Ensuring Inclusiveness, Sustainability, and Efficiency of Food System Transformation in the ASEAN and BIMSTEC countries

Background The project “Ensuring Inclusiveness, Sustainability, and Efficiency of Food System Transformation in the ASEAN and BIMSTEC Countries – (ATMI-II)” responds to the rapid transformation……

BRIGHT Sri Lanka

BRIGHT Sri Lanka

…

Groundwater governance: Managing the world’s most precious natural resource

Groundwater governance: Managing the world’s most precious natural resource

IFPRI’s research on natural resource governance addresses questions on how natural resources can best be managed, sustained, and restored, while improving livelihoods of the millions……

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Gashaw Abate

Research Fellow, Markets,
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Xinshen Diao

Xinshen Diao

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Khalid Siddig

Khalid Siddig

Senior Research Fellow, Development
Strategies and Governance

Amit Burman

Amit Burman

Project Coordinator, Development
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Ian Masias

Ian Masias

Program Head, Development
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Patrick Ward

Patrick Ward

Nonresident Fellow, Development
Strategies and Governance