THE Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation stated that the government will grant a permit to use vacant, fallow and virgin land for sisal production in line with the existing law.
Sisal, a tropical and sub-tropical plant, thrives in temperatures above 25 degrees Celsius, and this drought-resistant plant can be grown in dry regions. Sisal plants can reduce soil erosion, and they are resilient to natural disasters compared to other crops.
“The ministry will provide technical assistance as well as help fulfil seed requirements. Land permits will be granted under the Vacant, Fallow and Virgin Land Management Law. The ministry will coordinate with the Myanmar Investment Commission if they want to establish related factories on the land.
Sisal can grow best in Myanmar as it has arable land and a suitable climate. Therefore, we like to encourage sisal cultivation,” said an official from the ministry.
Value-added products from sisal fibre can generate greater profit than raw materials. Some entrepreneurs eye value-addition to sisal. Sisal fibre is mainly cultivated in Brazil, Tanzania, Mexico, Kenya and Madagascar. China is the world’s largest sisal importer and also the leading sisal manufacturer with value addition for exports. — ASH/KK

Source: The Global New Light of Myanmar

BRICS 2025 Global Agriculture Exhibition and Forum that will take place on 5-7 May 2025 in Moscow, Russia, welcomes the participation of Myanmar business people, companies and business delegates involved in the agriculture and food industry, according to Myanmar Trade Promotion Organization.
The exhibition will be held under the theme of Food Security and Sustainable Agricultural Development, to draft master strategies for bilateral cooperation and build momentum to sign agreements that will reap a fruitful result in the long term.
The BRICS 2025 Global Agriculture Exhibition and Forum is expected to attract high-ranking officials from Russia and over 15,000 visitors, with the participation of over 500 companies.
The exhibition will feature soil management for sustainable agriculture, pesticide products for agricultural production, synthetic fertilizer, organic fertilizer, livestock machinery, machines utilized in processing ready-made meat products, water treatment factory and ventilation systems, equipment used in commercial fish breeding businesses, crop production and storage system, biofuel from organic waste, turning trash into organic fertilizer system, chemical composition of feedstuffs including fruits and vegetables, dairy products, feedstuffs, nuts and supplement.
The expo offers a VIP package for 25,000 Russian roubles per square metre and a package for foreign delegations for 30,000 roubles per square metre. That expo space is 50 by 150 square metres area that can accommodate about 70 10 by 10 square feet standard booths.

Five representatives can enjoy expo participation, lunch and coffee, engagement in a forum, getting a taste of the latest menu and beverages, exchange and discussions, offering a visual display of their business through Display Screens, interview with media outlets, participation in the BRICS 2025 Catalogue and other interesting programmes.
For the package of foreign delegations, exhibition space is 100-150 square metres area covering over 150 10 by 10 feet standard booths. Five representatives will enjoy the same benefits, plus becoming a food judge and advertisement of their products on display screens.
Interested Myanmar business people can contact the Myanmar Trade Promotion Organization at 067 408622 and email: event.td.myantrade@gmail.com. — NN/KK

Source: The Global New Light of Myanmar

THE farmers say that turmeric roots, which are used as a mosquito repellent, are a good sale item for them. “It is good for the farmers.
It is easy to deliver. We dig and sell them by ourselves without brokers. It is not bad. There is already a market for it, so it is good for the farmers and we can grow it on a small scale,” said a turmeric farmer in Hinthada Township.
They will start digging turmeric roots this month, and sell them directly to the Bayintnaung warehouses, without going through brokers.
“We will dig them by the end of this month. Our farmers in Hinthada do not sell turmeric roots to brokers. They sell it directly at the Bayintnaung market in Yangon. We boil and dry turmeric roots in the sun. It is used as a mosquito repellent,” he added.
Turmeric grows naturally in many parts of Myanmar. It is also cultivated commercially.
The turmeric powder is used as a spice, and some use turmeric roots to make mosquito repellents. It grows during the rainy season, blooms in the months of Waso and Wakhaung, and harvested plants are sold as turmeric powder or roots. —Thit Taw/ZN

Source: The Global New Light of Myanmar

NAY PYI TAW February 14

Prize-presentation ceremony of union-level MSME products fair and competition was held at Taboung grounds of Uppatasanti Pagoda here this late  afternoon, attended by Chairman of MSME Development Work Committee Vice Chairman of State Administration Council Deputy Prime Minister Vice-Senior General Soe Win.

Also present were union ministers, union level dignitaries, senior military officers from the Office of the Commander-in- Chief, deputy ministers, MSME agency chairs from regions and states and officials,officials of associations, exhibition in-charges, heads of department, and local people.

Nay Pyi Taw Council Chair U Than Tun Oo presented special awards for MSME ideal products (food, personal goods, woven fabric, handicraft items) to 12  winners, and Union Minister for Science and Technology Dr Myo Thein Kyaw, special awards for production cooperative society performance to five winners and micro business to five winners.

Union Minister for Commerce U Tun Ohn presented honorary medals, certificates and cash awards to five small enterprises special awards winners and five medium enterprises special award winners, Union Minister for Industry U Charlie Than presented honorary medals, certificates and cash to best one region one product (OROP) award winners, contestants of Magway Region,  Mandalay Region, Mon State, Rakhine State, Yangon Region, Shan State, Ayeyawady Region and Union Territory.

Union Minister for Cooperatives and Rural Development U Hla Moe presented honorary medals, certificates and cash awards to best OROP award winners, contestants of Kachin State, Kayah State, Kayin State, Chin State, Sagaing  Region, Taninthayi Region and Bago Region, Union Minister for Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation U Min Naung presented honorary medals, certificates and cash awards for micro enterprise ideal products (food, personal goods, woven fabric, handicraft items) awards to four winners, and to third prize winners for micro enterprises performance competition, Daw Phyu Phyu Ou of “Withakha” Incense Stick and personal goods enterprise, Yangon Region, for micro enterprises performance competition, U Hlaing Moe of “HMG”vehicle air filter checkers enterprise, Mandalay Region, for medium enterprises performance competition to U Soe Moe Naing of “Myanmar Atlantic” Co Ltd, Taninthayi Region, and for cooperative society performance competition, officials of “Thar Tin Oo” general business cooperative society, Union Territory Nay Pyi Taw.

Union Minister for Planning and Finance U Win Shein presented honorary medals, certificates and cash awards for second prize winners in micro enterprise performance competition to Daw Malar San of “M-Treasure” betel nut leave production enterprise, Ayeyawady Region, for second prize winners in micro enterprise performance competition to U Zin Myo Htaik of “MG Myanmar Gasket” production enterprise, Yangon Region, for second prize winners in medium enterprise performance competition to Daw Lae Lae Oo of “Myanmar Shwe Fruits” Co Ltd, Union Territory Nay Pyi Taw, and for second prize winners in production cooperative society performance competition to officials of “Thirisanda” garment and general trade cooperative society, Yangon Region.

Then, the Vice-Senior General Soe Win presented honorary medals and certificates and cash rewards to the first prize winners of micro-, small- and medium enterprises and manufacturing cooperatives performance including Daw May Hnin Way of “Healthy & Happy” foodstuff industry in Mandalay Region for micro-enterprises, U Pyae Phyo Hlaing of “Thansin Nay La” (Sun and Moon  Melody) honey purifying factory in Sagaing Region for small-enterprises, U HtooWai of “Thalawaddy” Company Ltd., in Yangon Region for medium-enterprises and an official from “Anawrahta” Edible Oil Mill of Nyaung-U Township cooperatives organization of Mandalay Region.

After the prize presentation ceremony, the Vice-Senior General cordially greeted and congratulated the prize winners. The union-level MSME products exhibition and competition was held with the aims of enhancing cooperation among MSMEs in respective states and regions and fulfillment of the needs of a region by another region in the production chain by identifying advantages and disadvantages, highlighting the need for manufacturing entrepreneurs to understand and work towards the concept of “Better products at cheaper prices  and the same products of higher quality”, promoting the success of measures for one region, one product in respective regions and states, constantly boosting the production and services of MSMEs, replacing imports with domestic new value-added products and expanding the export market, encouraging B2B links with MSMEs and local and foreign investors, offering model product prizes and contributing to the last-long operations of MSMEs.

The exhibition is underway for 10 to 16 February, featuring 96 booths of ministries, states and regions, stalls for traditional food of national races and booths for enterprises linking with MSMEs, services available for mutual contacts between Myanmar exporters and Myanmar commercial counsellors in other countries, services for commercial ads provided by the Ministry of Information for entrepreneurs, foreign machinery and products and products of micro-enterprises and cooperatives.

A total of 63 prizes under seven prize categories were offered at the competition and digital trophies, honorary certificates and cash prizes worth Ks-75 million were offered to reflect the digital transformation practically at the prize presentation ceremony. Prize presenters will make cash transfers for the cash prizes through the digital payment system and recipients will receive them in  their E-banking accounts.

Source: Myawady Web Portal
 

WITH the elevated temperature, the consumption of watermelon has increased, helping the sale of watermelon expanded internally. The temperature has started rising from this month, meanwhile, watermelon trade has mounted as people buy it for eating, or reselling or making juice as watermelon is a fruit which improves hydration. 

“In summer, people enjoy eating watermelon so the trade is usually high when the weather is hot. Now, there are people who buy watermelon for eating, reselling or making juice,” said a watermelon sell er from Danyingone market. 

As overseas market, watermelon export goes to China through land borders, and under the current situation, the watermelon trade has been promising in the domestic market too, said an official from the Khwanyo fruits trading wholesale centre. 

Watermelon contains many health benefits and rich in nutrients such as Vitamin A and C, potassium and magnesium and it is perfect to eat in summer. — MT/ZS

Source: The Global New Light of Myanmar

ALTHOUGH the grapes from Yamethin in Mandalay Region are in low production, there are orders from all over the country, said Ko Nanda Aung, a grape wholesaler.

 “The price is good com pared to last year. Trading is not very brisk. Sales are not active due to poor road con nections and prices. This year, the yield is low, not as much as last year. The low yield means a high price. Orders are placed from all areas with road connectivity. Yangon is the largest buyer,” he said. 

Last year, the rain-fed grapes from Yamethin harvested during the rainy sea son were sold in Yangon, Mawlamyine and Mandalay, with Yangon making the most orders, however, its price was not as good as the summer grapes. 

Last December, the first grapes in the vineyards were sold at a good price, and the prices fell as the other farms also produced fruits. — Thit Taw/ZN

Source: The Global New Light of Myanmar

Union-level MSME Product Exhibition and Competition aim to produce value-added products at home as import-substitute goods and penetrate foreign markets.

A ceremony to open the Union-level MSME Product Exhibition and Competition took place at Tabaung Ground near the Uppatasanti Pagoda in Nay Pyi Taw yesterday morning, attended by Chairman of the State Administration Council Prime Minister Senior General Min Aung Hlaing.
Chairman of the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise Development Work Committee SAC Vice-Chairman Deputy Prime Minister Vice-Senior General Soe Win, Union Ministers U Win Shein, U Min Naung. U Hla Moe, Dr Charlie Than, Dr Myo Thein Kyaw and Nay Pyi Taw Council Chairman U Than Tun Oo cut the ceremonial ribbon to open the expo.
The Senior General pressed the button to inaugurate the expo.
At the opening ceremony, the Senior General and attendees enjoyed the dance performances of traditional cultural troupes with the song in honour of the opening of the expo in commemoration of the 78th Anniversary of Union Day.
The Senior General and his entourage interestingly visited the ministerial booths, and MSME booths of regions and states and asked about matters related to products, discussed work process of relevant products, use of raw materials, manufacturing of products, market shares at home and abroad, requirements of workplaces, and potentials to extend distribution of products domestically and internationally and fulfilled the needs.
In the afternoon, the Senior General viewed round MSME products at the booths of Mandalay Region, Ministry of Information, Business Matching Hall, Myanmar Banks Association, Digital Corner, Myanmar Economic Holding Public Company Limited, Myanmar Economic Corporation, Republic of the Union of Myanmar Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Myanmar Traditional Medicine Producers and Medical Entrepreneurs Association and Myanmar Oil Millers Association and asked about production, supply of raw materials, grasping foreign market shars, more distribution of products at home and abroad, and gave guidance. They rode buggies to view round products displayed by small-scale industries and manufacturing cooperative societies.
Also present at the ceremony were Daw Than Than Nwe, wife of the Vice-Senior General, Council Joint Secretary General Ye Win Oo, council members and their wives, Union ministers and their wives, Union-level dignitaries and their wives, chief ministers of regions and states and their wives, senior Tatmadaw officers from the Office of the Commander-in-Chief and their wives, deputy ministers and officials.
The expo will last for five days from 10 to 14 February, at Tabaung Ground, south of Uppatasanti Pagoda in Nay Pyi Taw. The expo aims to develop cooperation among MSMEs in regions and states to fulfil requirements for each other in the production chain and analyze strong and weak points, to help businesspersons seek the significant points for manufacturing better quality products at fair prices than others, to encourage successful implementation of the One Region One Product scheme, to continuously enhance products and services of MSMEs, to produce value-added products at home as import-substitute goods and penetrate foreign markets, to further cooperate between MSMEs and local and foreign investors, to honour model product awards to MSMEs and contribute to long-standing of MSME.
The expo features product sales at 96 booths of ministries, regions and states, traditional food stalls of ethnic people, business matching process, technological booths, foreign machinery and products, small-scale industries and manufacturing cooperative societies.
Plans are underway to present digital trophies, certificates of appreciation and cash awards for products to winners in 31 genres in the product competition. Cash award winners can take cash from e-banking through the digital payment system. — MNA/TTA

Source: The Global New Light of Myanmar

TOMATO price has fallen and its trade has mounted, according to traders. 

“It has been about three days that tomato price has declined and the trade has increased after the price dropped. The majority of orders come from Yangon and are followed by Nay Pyi Taw, Toungoo, Kanyutkwin, Pyay and Mawlamyine,” said Ko Than Win Hlaing from Padamya tomato wholesale trading centre in Aungban Township. 

Before the price dropped, the trade was slow as a kind of tomato called tomato species of Chinese Taipei was produced. The price is likely to continue falling until the end of February. 

“When a tomato variety, we called tomatoe species of Chinese Taipei were produced, the market was slightly slowdown. It seems the price will con tinue falling until the end of the month,” he said. — Thit Taw/ZS

Source: The Global New Light of Myanmar

AT the MSME Expo in commem oration of the 78th Union Day, Shwebo Win Cake which is a famous food product of Sagaing Region’s Shwebo Township will be featured. Shwebo Win Cake has been famous for about 60 years in Shwebo and the majority of orders have been placed from Yangon. “Shwebo Win Cake is the best-seller among local products. It has nationwide orders and Yan gon is the biggest customer. Its flavour is pretty good so it is pop ular. It is one of the famous foods made in Shwebo,” said an official from Swelay Shwebo local products trading in Shwebo Township. The union-level MSME expo will take place from 10 to 14 February in Nay Pyi Taw and at Sagaing Region’s local foods booth, Kho Taung Mont Ti (rice noodle salad), YeU sausage, ingredients for tea leaf salad, dried mutton meat, crispy tofu chips, Katha ferment ed fish, Shwebo Win Cake and aloe vera jam will be displayed. – Thit Taw/ZS

MELON and muskmelon are being exported to China and with good prices, the market potential has been fine. “At present, there is export of melon and muskmelon and prices are good. We can fetch a good price and at the same time, transport costs are getting higher.
Currently, we are exporting fruits from Mongla and it is a distant journey. It is the nature that we can make profits or face loss sometimes,” said an official from Khwanyo Fruits wholesale trading centre.
The price of melon is now about 3000 yuan per tonne while muskmelon price is 5,000-6,000 yuan per tonne, he said. Since last October, melon and muskmelon export has been done through Mongla, and despite the trade has been promising, the longer journey made some delays, he added.
If melon and muskmelon are fresh, they are favourable and can fetch good prices, he said, that is why the fruit exports require quality, he added.
Similarly, the melon trade has been also fine in the domestic market. — MT/ZS

Source: The Global New Light of Myanmar