The growers from Mongyu town in Tachilek District of eastern Shan State start harvesting the corn crops, in the hope of generating more profits.
The local growers began planting the corn crops (mainly Cp.888, F.888, and Cp.222 varieties) in early April. There are over 2,290 acres of corn crops this year in the town.
This year, the growers substitute tissue-culture bananas for corns. A kilo of maize fetches K312 and the growers can earn K624,000 as an acre can produce about 80 baskets. The input cost is estimated at K358,000, leaving the profit of K266,000 per acre, the grower from Mongyu Town said.
Corn is a potential crop that is highly demanded by foreign markets and the domestic market. The growing acres in Mongyu Town has increased this year.
Myanmar’s corn exports to foreign countries generated revenue of more than US$392 million in the seven months (October-April) of the current financial year 2020-2021, Myanmar Customs Department’s statistics showed.
The prices of Myanmar’s corn are climbing up in the Mandalay market on the back of strong demand by Thailand, coupled with the growing demand in the domestic market, traders from Mandalay depot said.
Myanmar has been delivering corns to the neighbouring countries Thailand and China via the land border. The shipment to Singapore, Malaysia and Viet Nam abruptly stopped due to lack of demand, he added.
Thailand gives the green light to corn imports through Maesot under zero tariff (with Form-D) between 1 February and 31 August. At present, Myanmar is conveying corn to Thailand through the land border, with a tonne of corn fetching up to about 8,000 baht.
Myanmar is the second-largest exporter of corn among regional countries. Corn is cultivated in Shan, Kachin, Kayah and Kayin states and Mandalay, Sagaing and Magway regions. Myanmar has three corn seasons — winter, summer and monsoon. The country yearly produces 2.5-3 million tonnes of corn.
The corn crop is mostly demanded by the feedstuff processing business. Therefore, it is a potential business for both domestic and external markets, said an official of the Ministry of Commerce.
During last FY 2019-2020 ended 30 September, the country exported 2.2 million tonnes of corns to the external market, with an estimated value of $360 million, the Ministry of Commerce’s data showed.
As per data from the Ministry of Commerce, Myanmar exported 1.5 million tonnes valued at $270 million in the 2018-2019FY, 1.4 million tonnes of corn worth over $290 million in the 2017-2018FY, 1.2 million tonnes of corn worth $250 million in the 2016-2017FY, and, 1.1 million tonnes of corn worth $300 million in the 2015-2016FY. – Ko Ko Naing, Ko Htet/GNLM
Corn harvest season starts in Mongyu Town
- July 19, 2021
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