Taninthayi Township expands coffee and cocoa cultivation to boost farmers’ income

In the 2024-2025 financial year, 197 acres of coffee plants were cultivated in Taninthayi Township, Myeik District, Taninthayi Region, to provide additional income for local farmers. The Taninthayi Township Department of Agriculture also facilitated the growing of 30 acres of cocoa trees.
“Due to the decline in areca nut prices, which has reduced local farmers’ income, our department encouraged farmers to diversify by planting coffee and cocoa trees as mix-crops in the areca palm plants to boost their incomes. As a result, we were able to expand the cultivation by growing 30 acres of coffee and cocoa trees,” said U Zaw Zaw, Head of the Taninthayi Township Agriculture Department.
This year, the Department of Agriculture provided 85,000 coffee saplings and 12,000 cocoa saplings to local farmers free of charge to support their efforts. A total of 227 acres of land will be placed under coffee and cocoa plantations by the end of the year to meet the target acreage.
Rubber and areca palm plants are the main perennial crops in Taninthayi Township. By encouraging the planting of coffee and cocoa as mixed crops in rubber and areca palm plantations, the department aims to improve land use efficiency, increase farmers’ incomes, and raise socioeconomic life. The initiative also seeks to provide more employment opportunities and penetrate Myanmar’s coffee into the global market by offering farmers with technical support and free seedlings.
As of 31 August 2024, local farmers have grown 197 acres of coffee and 30 acres of cocoa meeting the target. A total of 114 acres of horticultural farm and 183 forest reserved were utilized as 227 sown acres of coffee and cocoa plants. — Myint Oo (Myeik)/TKO