Papaya demand rises in Shan State market amid good supply

Due to an influx of papaya into the Shan State market, traders say demand is good.
With higher production this year, the traders are working hard to be able to sell as much as they can get.
“There is a harvest every seven days. The number of fruits is large. To sell as many as the supply, we need to make efforts. Fruits are good to sell at this time because it is hot. If I choose and buy only the best fruits, I have to pay more. I buy a papaya from the farms for K2,000 and sell it for K2,500. Demand and supply are not going down,” said a papaya trader.
A papaya costs between K1,000 and K3,500 in the Shan State market, depending on its size and roundness.
“There are more wholesalers in our area. Because of the effect of the watermelon market, the market for heavy papayas is smaller. This is the season to harvest juicy fruits like muskmelons. In the retail market, papaya costs a maximum of K3,000-K3,500. We can only get this price if the fruit weighs more than 1.5 visses or about two visses. Those that weigh less cost K1,000 or K1,500 per one papaya. We can’t sell sunburnt fruits. The price of papaya varies with its roundness,” said another trader.
Before the COVID-19 pandemic, the papaya market was good from April to October, and fruits produced in Sagaing and Mandalay regions were supplied to Taunggyi, Lashio in Shan State, Nay Pyi Taw and Yangon.
Ripe papaya is eaten as it is, and unripe fruits are used as a minor ingredient in papaya salads, Thai papaya salads and mixed salads. Papaya grows throughout Myanmar and is more abundant in tropical and subtropical areas. — Thit Taw/ZN/ED