950,000 tonnes of fertilizers, 13,000 tonnes of pesticides approved for import

According to the Ministry of Cooperatives and Rural Development, over 950,000 tonnes of fertilizer and more than 13,000 tonnes of pesticides were approved for import in the first four months of this financial year. These approvals, granted between April and July 2024, were based on submissions from companies. As of 22 July 2024, over 400,000 tonnes of the 600,000 tonnes of fertilizer licensed for import have already been brought in.
The ministry has set a target to import 1.6 million tonnes of fertilizer during the 2024-2025 financial year. Efforts are underway to ensure that licensed companies import the remaining quantities on schedule, as discussed in the ministry’s coordination meeting on 15 August.
Dr Ye Tint Tun, Director-General of the Department of Agriculture, stated, “Due to insufficient domestic pesticide production, we need to attract foreign direct investment (FDI) under the Pesticide Law.” He also highlighted the need to improve laboratory capabilities to ensure the quality of raw materials used in domestic pesticide production, which relies heavily on imported materials.
The Pesticide Registration Board has issued a total of 4,237 pesticide registrations, and discussions are underway to approve an additional 93 types of pesticides. — TWA/KZL