Alluvial lifeworlds and land access in the context of Agrarian transition in Sitkone Village, Magway, Central Myanmar

Abstract

The alluvial dwellers of Sitkone, situated in the middle of the Irrawaddy River in the dry zone of central Myanmar, are deeply connected to their dynamic riverine environment. Through the river’s fluidity, the ever-shifting and unstable alluvial landscape shapes their lifeworlds (living and working experiences), offering challenges and opportunities. Hence, these lands and lives are transient in nature. Myanmar’s rural villages face pressing land-related issues involving agricultural livelihoods and rural economic deterioration from political, climate, and agricultural transitions, whether directly or indirectly. This study focuses on alluvial farmers’ lived experiences, alluvial farming practices, property relations, land access, and climate change complications on their agricultural rhythms and lands. Data is collected through life history interviews, in-depth interviews, and focus group discussions. Historically, the annual flooding of the Irrawaddy nourished the alluvial (is)lands, supporting a stable agricultural cycle. However, the cessation of these floods over the past eight years has led to soil infertility and declining crop yields, thrusting farmers into cycles of debt and forcing many to abandon alluvial farming for unskilled manual jobs elsewhere. Amid Myanmar’s transition from a socialist to a market economy, agricultural practices have evolved rapidly, driven by modernization and commercialization. This transition, coupled with political instability, has rendered rural development uneven, also impacting the alluvial farmers. Sitkone villagers understand the river’s dynamics well and adapt their ways of living and working to its flow and rhythms. They lead a semi-mobile lifestyle across changing alluvial (is)lands in the flow of the river’s meandering courses. Their traditional practices, daily lives, and one-seasonal farming calendar are in sync with the river’s annual flood cycle. They actively and constantly monitor the river, its flow, changes, and erosion while also paying attention to upstream activities that may affect the longevity of their farmland and village. Alluvial farming relies on nutrient-rich silt deposited by seasonal floods. The alluvial farmers are sensory farmers as they deploy all senses in their cultivation practices, smelling moisture through the winds, touching the readiness of soil, and observing and taking care of the health and fruitfulness of their crops as if they were their children. With their embodied knowledge, experiential skills, hands-on engagement, and sensory attunement passed down through generations, they assess soil conditions, select suitable crops, optimize farming techniques, and strive to have a good harvest in the unpredictable riverine environment. The 'alluvial lifeworlds' concept illuminates the reality of alluvial dwellers whose lives and livelihoods are intricately bound to the ever-changing alluvial landscape, shaped by the complex interplay of environmental, social, agricultural, and economic forces that define their existence. Examining land access and disputes is a critical aspect of the study. The colonial- era Kwin cadastral system underpins land claims in Sitkone, yet the ever-shifting alluvial landscape complicates its application. Ambiguities in national land laws and political mismanagement exacerbate land conflicts, challenging villagers’ efforts to secure access and tenure. Ribot and Peluso’s theory of access is employed to analyze the dynamic social and economic factors influencing land rights and resource benefits. Agrarian transition is non-linear and unique to local communities. Myanmar alluvial farmers experience a “double transition” as they adjust to changing alluvial sedimentation and dissolution while being drawn deeper into the national and international economy. Despite the promises of guided agrarian transition, alluvial farmers find it increasingly difficult to make ends meet. The benefits and end goals of agrarian transition may not adequately portray or understand the experiences of Myanmar’s alluvial farmers.