Chinese company Kangrui Agriculture Livestock Development Company Limited invested US$37 million to carry out the breeding and trading of cattle in Myanmar, according to the Directorate of Investment and Company Administration (DICA).
“That permitted enterprise is aimed for export to China. This is the first ever enterprise that has been given the green light for cattle farming”, said U Thant Sin Lwin, acting Director-General of the DICA.
That project area is located in Nyaungoak village-tract, Mahlaing Township, Meiktila District, Mandalay Region, according to DICA.
The livestock sector has potential for foreign investment, said U Thant Sin Lwin, referring to the Commerce Ministry’s statement. The export of cattle is officially allowed from Myanmar. Therefore, Myanmar’s government is planning to enter into a Government to Government pact with China. In a bid to encourage legal trade routes, increase income and create more jobs for local residents, livestock trade was allowed in Myanmar in late 2017, along with decentralized cattle exports from the respective region and state governments. But, the power was transferred from regional governments to the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation, as they faced certain difficulties in the movement of cattle, according to an announcement from the Ministry on 22 May.
Cattle in Myanmar are mainly exported to China through the Muse border gate, as well as to Thailand.
Normally, a large cow is valued at over K1.6-2.3 million, but the suspension of trade has led to Chinese traders resorting to manipulating prices by offering a lower price of around K1 million in early 2019.
Between the 2017-2018FY and 28 March in the current FY, over 464,000 heads of cattle were authorized for export. But, the actual export figure was more than 375,000 heads of cattle.
At present, cattle that are above five years old are being exported, along with the required vaccination certificates, health certificates, and farming registration certificates. According to the 2018 cattle census, there are 11.5 million heads of cattle in the country.
The authorities have issued cattle export licenses to more than 300 companies in Magway Region. There are some 5,000 companies holding cattle export licenses across the country.
By Nyein Nyein(Translated by Ei Myat Mon)
