Meeting on import and distribution of high-quality, affordable agricultural inputs before planting season held

Union Minister for Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation U Tin Htut Oo attended the coordination meeting on importing and distributing agricultural inputs with high quality and low cost before the planting season yesterday morning in Nay Pyi Taw.
At the meeting, the Union Minister said Myanmar has many potentials and opportunities for further import and distribution of pesticides, fertilizer and seeds, adding that a sustainable economic chain can only be built by creating fair profits for companies that are doing business on agricultural inputs, with a focus on good quality and affordable price for farmers.
He also added the consumption of fertilizers, pesticides and high-quality seeds by Myanmar, which is very low compared to neighbouring countries.  According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO-Stat website), more than 3,000 tonnes of pesticides were used in Myanmar in 2018. Thailand received more than 30,000 tonnes and Vietnam consumed more than 20,000 tons.
More than 180,000 tonnes of fertilizer urea were used in Myanmar, while more than 1.8 million tonnes in Thailand and 1.4 million tonnes were used in Vietnam. Regarding the consumption of seeds, the cost of seeds in Myanmar is only $ 16 per hectare, while in Thailand, it is $ 117 per hectare. And Viet Nam is spending $ 59, according to the findings. According to the facts, the Union Minister said Myanmar has many potentials and opportunities to import and distribute seeds, pesticides, and fertilizer.
He also added that the registration and certificates for export-import of agricultural inputs can now be easily applied online through the Myanmar Agricultural Inputs Registration System (MAIRS).
The attendees discussed preparation to import and distribute good quality and affordable agricultural inputs; Government’s assistance for the timely exchange of foreign currency for import of raw materials for domestic production and to reduce the rapidly changing exchange rate; coordination matters among the relevant departments, associations and business persons; experience of using MAIRS online system.
The meeting was also attended by Deputy Minister Dr Aung Gyi, the Permanent Secretary and Directors–General, officials from UMFCCI, the Ministry of Commerce and 38 representatives from the Myanmar Fertilizer, Seed and Pesticide Entrepreneurs Association and Agricultural Inputs Companies.
From October 2020 to April 2021, Myanmar imports 670,000 tonnes of urea, 16,000 tonnes of pesticides and 5,000 tonnes of seeds.
Myanmar has 377 registered pesticide companies, five pesticide companies with 100% foreign investment, and 222 companies producing and selling pesticides locally. Four companies are reselling pesticides locally. A total of 637 has registered as fertilizer companies, and there are eight fertilizer companies with 100% foreign investment in Myanmar. — MNA