Myanmar’s dried fish industry has faced unprecedented challenges in recent years. DFM supported A Myint Zu to pursue a Master of Science in Gender and Development Studies at the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT) under the supervision of Dr. Kyoko Kusakabe. Myint Zu completed her program in 2023. Her master’s thesis, Assessing the impacts of triple crises on the men and women owned small-scale dried fish productions: a case study in Ayeyarwady region, Myanmar, revealed the intricate impacts of a triple crisis – the COVID-19 pandemic, political instability, and economic fluctuations – on small-scale dried fish production in the Ayeyarwady Region of Myanmar. Myint Zu’s study illuminates the resilience and adaptability of the small-scale dried fish sector in the face of adversity. As the crises disrupted travel, reduced demand and led to volatile prices, dried fish entrepreneurs showed remarkable adaptability and innovation. They diversified their income sources, adjusted prices, and altered their working hours to overcome these hurdles. Notably, the study revealed gender-specific differences in coping strategies driven by factors like market preferences, working capital, and risk management. Moreover, access to credit and trust played pivotal roles in shaping these strategies. These gender-specific coping strategies highlight the importance of understanding gender-specific impacts and tailoring interventions accordingly.
For those interested, the thesis is available in the DFM Zotero library.