Mango’s export market faces hindrance; growers keen on domestic market only

Myanmar’s mango exporters are facing challenges to enter China. The growers are enthusiastic about distributing them only in the domestic market, said Sai Khin Maung from the Khwanyo fruit depot.
The delay in transportation as if the customs policy changes impeded the watermelon export was under the Standard Operation Procedure system during the COVID-19. He continued that the driver substitution system and evaluation of short-haul transport are the major obstacles.
Additionally, negotiations with China regarding Green Channel for mango export are still undertaken.
Furthermore, due to the restrictions, there’s no place for mangoes on the side of China’s wamting fruit yard. The freight transport has become faster, yet it’s still hard to place the fruits in the market within one week, Sai Khin Maung added.
As the export market has many barriers, the growers are focusing only on the domestic market.
Nevertheless, the maturity of the Seintalone mango variety, which is primarily exported to China, is pretty late. The market sees no exporters yet.
Next, Good Agricultural Practice is required for mango export to China. Moreover, the growers and workers have to strictly adhere to COVID-19 preventive measures such as washing hands, wearing masks and gloves, and sanitation in the packaging process, according to the Khwanyo fruit depot.
“COVID-19 preventive measures play a pivotal role in exports as watermelon and muskmelon were previously discarded due to China’s virus strict policy (stating that virus was detected on the goods). Before China’s customs regulations, the COVID test was carried out in Shwelwein on the Myanmar side. If the virus is spotted on the goods on China’s side, a truckload of 20 to 28 tonnes of mango will be wasted. Even if one basket found the virus, all the goods on the truck will go in vain. Only those who are willing to take a risk will try to export the mango to China for now. However, we cannot guarantee the quality of the fruits amid the delay. China has not eased the virus policy despite Myanmar’s ease in restrictions during the pandemic”, Sai Khin Maung said.
Last year, the prices of Seintalone touched a low of only 100 Yuan per 16-kilogramme basket, said U Kyaw Soe Naing, secretary of the Myanmar Mango Market and Technology Development Association.
The closure of the border posts and longer hours of the test caused the exports of Seintalone to drop by half compared to the previous year.
Of about 200 mango varieties that originated in Myanmar, Seintalone, Shwehintha, Padamyar Ngamauk, Yinkwe, and Machitsu varieties are primarily grown. The foreign market prefers Seintalone types.
Ayeyawady Region possesses the most extensive mango plantation acres, having about 46,000 acres. Bago Region is the second-largest producer with 43,000 acres, and Mandalay has 29,000 acres of mango. According to the association, there are over 24,000 acres in Kayin State, over 20,400 acres in Shan State, and over 20,000 acres in Sagaing Region.— NN/GNLM