HOUSE OF THE WEEK
Unfinished project in South Okkalapa tsp
THIS two-storey house in South Okkalapa township represents unfinished business. more
Good farming guidelines could boost exports: MAS
(Volume 26, No. 512)
NEW guidelines being introduced will help Myanmar export fruit to other ASEAN countries and beyond, government agriculture experts say.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation says the national guidelines for Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) for the production of fresh fruit and vegetables will emerge by the end of 2010.
Once the guidelines are in place, the Myanmar Agriculture Service (MAS), which is part of the ministry, will be able to issue GAP certificates for fresh fruit and vegetable production.
“The GAP certificate will be necessary in order to export fresh fruit and vegetables to other ASEAN countries by 2012,” a MAS official said.
The aim of the guidelines is to improve quality and to prevent or reduce the hazards of inadequate food safety. They also take into account environmental impact and worker health, safety and welfare.
“The ministry organised meetings in December and February to discuss the national guidelines. ASEAN guidelines for GAP already exist. We just need to modify them for use in Myanmar,” the official said.
The ministry is also promoting farmers’ awareness about GAP in Mandalay and Sagaing divisions and Shan State, and organising lectures in seven state agricultural institutes.
“We have given three training courses on GAP to mango growers in Shan State. In March, we will give GAP training in Mandalay at the request of Mandalay Fruit and Vegetable Producer and Exporter Association,” he said.
A fruit exporter said that once the GAP certificate is in place, Myanmar fruit can fetch top prices from Singapore and Thailand.
“I exported honey dew to Singapore from my farms in Yangon. Now I cannot grow the fruit because of the weather and I cannot export,” said U Maung Hein, marketing manager of Suntree Agriculture Produce.
“I have to guarantee that my fruit is free of chemical residue. I dare not guarantee fruits from the markets as there is no GAP certificate,” he said.
“Now most fruit goes to China, which does not require a certificate. But the Chinese market is very risky for farmers. The price may slump dramatically and farmers may lose a great deal,” he said.
“I export fruit to Singapore on contract, and I have contracts with the farmers, so the price is guaranteed and they cannot lose,” he said.
“When I contract with farmers, I give them about 20 percent of the premium price. I also give them seeds, fertilisers and pesticides. They just need to follow GAP guidelines,” he said.
However, U Maung Hein says he cannot export from Mandalay and Sagaing Divisions, where the farmers he normally works with are located, because of high transportation charges.
“I need trucks with cold storage facility if I am to export fruits from there. That’s why I’ve stopped exporting,” he said.
