Abstract
The purpose of this study is to investigate how people adapt themselves to the effects of natural disasters. The study mainly focuses on people in Parhlei, Tarwa, Konsu, Innmalay, Innmagyi, Chaunggyi and Kanchaung villages on the eastern bank of the Ayeyarwady River, affected by flood and riverbank erosion. The study tries to make a link between people’s livelihood and lifestyle pattern change in pre-flood, during flood and post-flood conditions and also observe how they utilize their land after floods. To analyze the data, mixed methods are applied, utilizing primary as well as secondary sources, based on survey questionnaire and interviews. It is found that those living on the banks experience positive effects from the floods as they have alluvial residues that are deposited by the floods. People who live far from the banks were found not to benefit from the floods. People suffer from a temporary loss of agricultural land, but they grow paddy on the fertile land in summer which yields better productivity to compensate for the poor yields in the rainy season. The study also measures the socio-economic conditions of the local people living in the affected areas. Suggestions are made to the authorities concerned to raise the height of the revetment by at least five or more feet and to stop business people from producing construction materials like sand, gravel and pebbles from the riverbank by means of sucking machines.
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Acknowledgments
We would like to express our most heartfelt thanks to Professor Dr. Poe Kaung, Rector, and Professor Dr. AungKyaw, Pro-Rector, and Professor Dr. Kyaw Naing, Pro-Rector, for their kind permission to conduct this research.
We would also like to extend our heartfelt thanks to Professor Dr. Helen James for helping us in various ways and for her valuable explanations and constant encouragement during the task.
We are also thankful to those who gave us valuable lectures, guidance and encouragement throughout the training course on social and demographic research methods.
Our special thanks go to the authority of Nyaungdon for their permission to lodge at the place and to study in Nyaungdon area as well as for their hospitality.
Finally, we render our acknowledgments to all the responsible personnel of Nyaundon Township.
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Khin Mar Wai, Wint Wint Htun (2019). Impacts of Flood and Riverbank Erosion on Human Livelihoods: A Case Study of Some Riverside Villages in the Lower Ayeyarwady. In: James, H. (eds) Population, Development, and the Environment. Palgrave Macmillan, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-13-2101-6_6
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-13-2101-6_6
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Publisher Name: Palgrave Macmillan, Singapore
Print ISBN: 978-981-13-2100-9
Online ISBN: 978-981-13-2101-6
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