IN six townships of Yangon Region, Robusta coffee, which already has a strong market, will be cultivated on 20,390 acres, with more than 20,000 plants, starting from the rainy season in accordance with the annual targets, according to the Yangon Region Department of Agriculture.
Robusta coffee seedlings have been prepared in advance for planting during the rainy season. In the 2026-2027 financial year, initial cultivation will be carried out on a total of 1,000 acres- 280 acres in Taikkyi Township, 500 acres in Hlegu Township, 100 acres in Hmawby Township, 40 acres in Twantay Township, 60 acres in Kawhmu Township, and 20 acres in Kungyangon Township, until the 2030- 2031 financial year.
“Coffee cannot be cultivated unless the climate is suitable. As it is a lowland variety, we will plant over 20,000 plants as perennial intercropping in over 48,707 acres of rubber, cashew and Acacia mangium plantation in six townships of Yangon in the coming monsoon season. As we have a five-year plan, it is such a crop that makes more income for the farmers, and is also a perennial crop for the farmers who want to expand the plantation,” said Daw Hla Kyi, assistant director of the department.
The Robusta coffee will be planted in Taikkyi, Hlegu, Hmawby, Twantay, Kawhmu and Kungyangon townships starting from the monsoon with 1,000 acres in the 2026-2027 financial year, 2,500 acres in the 2027-2028 financial year, 4,000 acres in the 2028-2029 financial year, 5,500 acres in the 2029-2030 financial year, 7,390 acres in the 2030-2031 financial year, totalling 20,390 acres.
Robusta coffee, which already has a strong market demand, is being introduced as an expanded crop in Yangon Region. If farmers show increasing interest in coffee cultivation, more seedlings will continue to be distributed. Coffee seedlings typically take six to twelve months to grow in nurseries. Harvesting begins about three to four years after planting, and the beans are picked, dried, and sold directly, sent to factories, or processed and marketed by growers themselves for both domestic and international markets. Coffee plantations are already thriving in Toungoo Township in Bago Region, and in Yangon Region, this will be introduced as a new, expanded crop in the coming monsoon season.
Robusta lowland coffee can be grown at altitudes below 2,500 feet. It is resistant to pests and diseases and provides good yields. Due to its higher bitterness and caffeine content, it is popular in the global coffee market. Coffee is the second most consumed beverage in the world after water, and due to strong global demand, international coffee market experts predict that demand will double in 2026. — Thitsa (MNA)/KTZH
