New quality control laboratory enhances assessment of agricultural produce

The Department of Agriculture, under the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, and Irrigation, inaugurated a new quality control laboratory on 11 February at the Pyinmana Institute of Agriculture in Nay Pyi Taw.
This facility will utilize modern equipment such as Liquid Chromatography and Inductively Coupled Plasma Spectrometry (LCICP MS) to assess the quality and nutritional content of agricultural produce.
The laboratory’s primary focus will be on checking for heavy metals like arsenic, cadmium, copper, lead, and nickel, which are crucial for ensuring compliance with Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) and meeting export standards. Additionally, it will analyze samples of soil and water for the presence of these heavy metals.
Furthermore, the laboratory will employ advanced technology to measure various attributes such as sweetness, acidity, vitamin C content, beta-carotene, and antioxidants in fruits, all of which contribute to determining the overall quality of agricultural produce.
This rigorous quality control process, along with the issuance of certificates attesting to the quality of agricultural produce, will enhance the standards of locally produced goods, enabling them to compete effectively in the market. The Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, and Irrigation has plans to establish another agricultural produce quality control laboratory in Mandalay to further support this initiative. — TWA/TRKM