Mandalay – A Myanmar entrepreneur, who is running organic poultry farms, has been selected as one of the United Nations Global Compact’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Pioneers, the UN Global Compact announced on Monday.
Ko Zaw Ye Naung, co-founder of Shwe Taung Nyo Gyi organic poultry farms, was selected as a 2019 SDG Pioneer for advancing livelihoods along with nine other young pioneers from Singapore, Pakistan, Indonesia, Bangladesh, Canada, Kenya, Netherlands, the UK and the US.
UN Global Compact’s announcement praised Ko Zaw Ye Naung’s responsible production through recycling and innovation. It said his Shwe Taung Nyo Gyi poultry farms were using a micro-farming business model to support farmers and produce fresh chicken and free-range eggs.
The head office is in Yangon and the farms are in Irrawaddy Region, Pyin Oo Lwin in Mandalay Region, Kalaw in Shan State and Yangon Region.
“I became an SDG Pioneer only because of the farmers who work together with me. Without them, our farms will not achieve success,” said Ko Zaw Ye Naung.
The first Shwe Taung Nyo Gyi farm was founded in June 2017 and has been certified by the Myanmar Organic Agriculture Group (MOAG).
Organic chicken feed, such as corn, rice, beans and sesame, is obtained from Shan State, Karen State and Yangon and Mandalay regions.
The UN’s announcement said the Shwe Taung Nyo Gyi farm micro-business program was supporting nearly 100 organic farmers with steady jobs and incomes.
“I believe that being selected as an SDG Pioneer gives us strength to move forward and it will also inspire the organic market and organic farmers in the country who are facing many difficulties and challenges,” Ko Zaw Ye Naung added.
The SDG Pioneers will be invited to attend the UN Global Compact Leaders Week at the UN General Assembly in New York from Sept. 23 to 26.
The UN program looks to drive business awareness and action in support of achieving the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030.
SDG Pioneers are selected every year with the aim of using business as a force for good to advance sustainable development goals.
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