28 Dec
THANAKA market is sluggish amid the COVID-19 crisis and on the back of weak demand during winter, said U Kyaw Moe, chair of Myanmar Thanaka Planters and Producers Association (MTPPA).
Thanaka, a yellowish-white cosmetic paste made from ground bark, is a natural cosmetic in Myanmar.
“Thanaka exports to Bangkok have come to a halt. The COVID-19 pandemic triggered the domestic production slowdown,” a producer from Ayadaw Township pointed out.
“The market is cool in winter. Three trucks are carrying 500-600 Thanaka plants from Ayadaw (Thanaka city) and supplying the market. Earlier, around eight trucks were seen leaving for other townships,” said U Kyaw Moe.
The prices of a Thanaka plant move in the range of K2,000 and K15,000. The eight-year-old plant was earlier priced K18,000 in maximum. Now, the price dropped to K13,000.
Thanaka produced by Ayadaw Township is sent to wholesale depots in Pakokku, Yesagyo, Bago and Kyonpyaw towns. The demand from the Thanaka value chain is relatively low in the meantime.
Ayadaw Township Thanaka Association is making concerted efforts to set up Thanaka zone, said MTPPA Chair U Kyaw Moe.
“There are over 100,000 acres of Thanaka in Ayadaw Township. The association is attempting to set up Thanaka zone covering 100-150 acres in Ayadaw and moving forward to creating agro-tourism site,” he affirmed.
It is like a nature-based, farm-based and community-based agricultural tourism destination. Discussion is being undertaken. Sagaing Region Consumer Affairs Department and regional Directorate of Hotels and Tourism are working together to establish Thanaka zone.
Myanmar is exploring community-based and eco-tourism sites. There is no tourism site related to Thanaka farming in the country. The zone will create job opportunities for residents and bring about rural development, the MTPPA chair shared his opinion.
Myanmar’s Thanaka has been submitted to be included in UNESCO intangible cultural heritage list in March 2020.
The location of the zone will be selected depending on the natural scenic view, dam, natural lake and road transportation, he added.
Myo Win Tun (Monywa) (Translated by Ei Myat Mon)
