In 2022, the New Myanmar Foundation (NMF) launched a Livestock Support Program to assist two Burmese migrant farmers who fled to Mae Sot, Thailand, due to threats and violations by the military junta. The program aimed to generate income and ensure food security for these farmers and their community. NMF provided cash support and introduced improved farming methods to enhance livestock production. This included funding for feeding, water pipelines, machinery, an electricity box for the livestock, and other essential raw materials. 

The support enabled the farmers to establish a stable source of income and contribute to the food security of their families and the wider community, demonstrating NMF’s commitment to empowering displaced individuals through sustainable livestock practices.

The Livestock Support Activity faced several significant challenges and risks, primarily stemming from the migrants’ lack of legal status and ownership issues. Without legal status, migrants struggle with bank account transfers, complicating financial transactions and support disbursement. Land ownership remains a major hurdle, as land in Thailand is owned by citizens, leaving migrant farmers and livestock workers without land ownership rights, thus reducing their incentives to invest in and commit to the program. This situation leads to hesitancy and slower learning in work-related activities, as migrants often have no decision-making power and must adhere to landowners’ decisions. Furthermore, even after setting up the program, migrants are sometimes moved from their farms by landowners, further discouraging their participation and creating instability. This, coupled with the necessity of taking on odd jobs for survival, hampers the overall effectiveness and sustainability of the livestock support initiative.