Korea, Myanmar discuss to enhance maize, pulses productivity

Agriculture Department officials led by Director-General Dr Ye Tint Tun held a meeting regarding the productivity of maize and pulses with experts from Mahaw General Trading Co-operative Society Co from Korea on 23 August 2024.
Dr Ye Tint Tun gave a remark that the demand from feed mills is pretty low. The remaining is mainly sent to China and Thailand. Korean experts came to cultivate high-yielding crops in Myanmar. The department is willing to conduct an export process to Korea that is in line with the rules and regulations.
Myanmar mainly ships green grams, black grams and pigeon peas to international markets. The department welcomes investment from Korea and links with the departments concerned.
Myanmar’s maize is primarily sent to Thailand and also delivered to China, India, the Philippines, Vietnam, and the Myanmar Corn Industrial Association.
Thailand gives the green light for maize imports under zero tariff (with Form-D) between 1 February and 31 August. However, Thailand imposes a maximum tax rate of 73 per cent on maize imports to protect the rights of their growers if the maize is imported during the maize season of Thailand.
Additionally, China has been purchasing Myanmar’s maize through cross-border trade under alternative development programmes. Legitimate maize trade between Myanmar and China commenced at the end of 2022. A total of 112 Myanmar companies have been permitted to export maize.
Myanmar exported more than one million tonnes of maize in the first quarter of the current financial year (2024-2025), with 390,000 tonnes in April, 370,000 tonnes in May and 390,000 tonnes in June, according to the Ministry of Commerce.
Myanmar conveyed over 2 million tonnes of maize to foreign trade partners in the 2022 corn season, and the majority of them went to Thailand, according to the Myanmar Corn Industrial Association.
The corn is cultivated in Shan, Kachin, Kayah, and Kayin states as well as Mandalay, Sagaing, and Magway regions. Myanmar has three corn seasons: winter, summer and monsoon. Myanmar’s annual corn output is estimated at 2.5-3 million tonnes. — NN/KK