Blossoming Futures: Women Farmers in Myanmar Turn Flowers into Livelihoods

From uncertain harvests to thriving flowers 

Every morning, Soe Soe Win steps into her quaint garden and watches tiny green buds gradually open into golden Chrysanthemums, known in Myanmar as Gandamar flowers.  

A few months ago, witnessing this transformation felt like a distant dream.

“We used to think flower farming was not for us,” reflects Soe Soe Win, a spirited 40-year-old who shares her home with her elderly parents and older sister. “But now, from this small plot, I earn as much as I used to make in a whole month.”  

Like many families in Kya Oh Kyun, a riverside village in central Myanmar, Soe Soe Win’s family relies on agriculture, small-scale trading, and fishing. She and her sister typically cultivate seasonal crops, such as roselle and corn. Yet, the uncertainty of their income loomed large.

“Our income was never stable,” she recalls. “Some months, we only made 200,000 kyats (about USD 48).” Those earnings, she says, were never enough to feel secure.

Taking the first step to a sustainable livelihood 

Things began to shift when the UNDP ENCORE project conducted a Participatory Livelihood Assessment (PLA) in her village in December 2024. The process brought together women from the most vulnerable households to explore new opportunities to improve their livelihoods. During heartfelt discussions, they shared their existing skills, examined market demand, and identified the obstacles standing in their way.

One idea that came up repeatedly was the potential of growing Gandamar flowers.

In Myanmar, Gandamar flowers are more than just blossoms—they are an integral part of daily life and tradition. Offered at Buddhist temples, placed before household shrines, woven into ceremonies, or used in traditional medicine, they carry a deep symbolism of purity and longevity. This deep-rooted importance ensures steady demand in local markets, giving Gandamar flowers a strong and competitive market value.

“We heard of neighbours growing them in a nearby village. We heard they sold well,” Soe Soe Win recalls. “We knew there was demand for these flowers, especially for religious offerings. But we didn’t know how or where to start growing them.”

The conversations during the PLA process inspired seven women eager to try something different. They formed the Toe Pwar Livelihood Group as part of the project’s Startup Livelihood Assistance for Women (SLAW). Just a week later, they embarked on a journey to transform their futures.

The project provided them with essential supplies, including seedlings, soil, and tools, as well as hands-on training from UNDP. They learned how to set up a nursery, care for young plants, and successfully transplant them into the ground to grow.

“Thanks to the training,” Soe Soe Win says, “I now understand how to manage the nursery step by step.” 

Learning, Growing, Earning 

In the first cycle, each woman planted 1,500 flowers—just the right amount to balance risk and help them build their confidence. As they nurtured these blossoms, they also tended to familiar corn crops, adding a layer of security in case the flowers didn’t flourish as expected.

By May, their hard work began to bloom.

Soe Soe Win proudly sold her first batch for nearly 300,000 kyats (about USD 72), surpassing her best monthly earnings. “Now, we know we can do this,” she says. “We’re already planning to expand next season. Our confidence is growing along with our flowers.”

Encouraged by this success, she and her fellow SLAW members intend to plant more than 1,500 flowers in the next cycle. What once felt like a cautious limit has now become a stepping stone for greater ambition.

Building on this momentum, Soe Soe Win went a step further. Applying the techniques she had learned, she nurtured an additional 500 seedlings on her own. “I’m combining traditional practices with the new techniques we learned,” she explains, determined to keep pushing her skills and yields forward.

Women reshape their futures one bloom at a time 

The success of the first cycle sparked hope among the members. It has shifted mindsets.  

“We used to think flower farming was not for us. But now, with training and support, we see that we too can succeed,” Soe Soe Win says. “It really is beautiful and fulfilling. I want to tell other women to give it a try. Yes, there will be challenges, but we learn along the way. Each step, even the hard ones, helps us move forward.”

In her blooming garden, Soe Soe Win sees more than flowers. She envisions possibilities, opportunities, and a bright future she is creating with her own hands.

__________________________________________________________________________________________

UNDP Myanmar’s Enabling Community Recovery and Resilience (ENCORE) project is funded by the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), the Government of Norway, and the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC).  

* This story was originally published on the UNDP Myanmar Website on 15 October 2025.