Seintalone mango growers rely more on domestic market this year

July 5

The growers of Seintalone mango rely more on domestic demand this year as trade to Chinese market is inactive for now, the growers stressed.

An acre has 30 mango trees and a tree can bear more than 150 mangoes. The input costs nearly K400,000 per acre. A mango fetches only K150 at the present time. This being so, the growers do not earn a handsome profit this year, a grower said.

“This year, exports to Muse border dropped. However, the mango with good packaging is sent to various regions and states in the country. The mango reached most of the buyers through digital platform previously. The digital marketing and sales have remarkably declined owing to the mobile internet restrictions and the buying behaviour has also changed in the domestic market,” Myanmar Mango Market and Technical Development Association stated.

“The domestic market sees a good potential this year, especially in Yangon and Mandalay. A mango is worth K350-400 in the domestic market. At present, the foreign demand is still sluggish,” U Kyaw Soe Naing, general secretary of the association elaborated.

Myanmar’s mango export has generated US$278 million income in the first half (Oct-Mar) of the current financial year 2020-2021, according to the Myanmar Customs Department.

This year, mango export remarkably dropped due to the closure of Man Wein border gate triggered by the COVID-19 positive impacts.

The exports of Seintalone mango this year is about 50 per cent less than in the corresponding period last year, said U Kyaw Soe Naing, general secretary of the association.

“The drop in mango export is attributed to China’s restriction in some border areas amid the COVID-19 and delays related to the COVID-19 containment measure (COVID-19 test for food packaging).

“China shut many border posts. Only Kyinsankyawt post is available for cross-border trade, causing delays and long-queue. It takes 4 to 5 days for a truck to enter the checkpoint. Heightened security measures on fruits and vegetables hinder the border trade,” U Kyaw Soe Naing continued.

At present, Seintalone mangoes from Sagaing and Katha cities are daily sent to China on 10 to 15 trucks, the association stated.

Of about 200 mango strains originated in Myanmar, Seintalone, Shwehintha, Padamyar Ngamauk, Yinkwe and, Machitsu varieties are primarily grown. Foreign market prefers Seintalone variety. Ayeyawady Region possesses the largest mango farms, having about 46,000 acres. Bago Region is the second largest producer with 43,000 acres and Mandalay has 29,000 acres of mango. There are over 24,000 acres in Kayin State, over 20,400 acres in Shan State and over 20,000 acres in Sagaing Region, according to the association.

In addition to the main trade partner China, Myanmar’s mangoes were shipped to India, Bangladesh, Thailand, the Republic of Korea, Singapore, and Japan in the previous years.  Mango farm-owners need to follow Good Agricultural Practices (GAP). They also need to obtain GAP certification. The Agriculture Department has been striving for long-term organic farming.—GNLM