3,394 tonnes of GM bananas exported to China during April-September

According to statistics from the Ministry of Economy and Commerce, 3,394 tonnes of Genetically Modified (GM) bananas were exported to China from April to September.
The GM bananas are cultivated locally and exported to China every year, and from April to September of the financial year 2022-2023, 15,138 tonnes worth US$5.868 million were exported and sold.
According to the statistics, 3,394 tonnes worth $1.146 million were exported and sold more than the previous year.
GM bananas are mostly cultivated in Waingmaw, Momauk, Wunmaw, Shwegu and Mansi near Myitkyina, Kachin State and Ngao in Sagaing Region starting from 2006, and exported to China through the Lweje Trading Zone.
The advantage and weaknesses of growing GM bananas have been previously considered by various relevant departments.
Officials proposed the potential side effects of the fertilizers used with GM banana cultivation on the land, water and atmosphere and their effects on consumers during the meeting of the National Assembly held on 12 December 2019.
Side effects of mandatory herbicides were also discussed as many acres of soil and land will be destroyed on the land that will be left at the end of a year.
Acres of land that will be needed in the future and lands that can be damaged and the needs of land for the future were also discussed according to the parliamentary records.
GM bananas were mainly exported from Kachin State’s Kampaiti border trade post to China during the rainy season, from 1 April to 17 June 2022, and $31.196 million were exported and $2.304 were imported, according to the Ministry of Commerce.
According to the list released by the Kachin state government, there are more than 60,000 acres GM banana plantations in the entire state. — TWA/GNLM