Banana exports

MYANMAR will soon begin exporting a new type of banana to China, said an official from the Ministry of Commerce.

Brazilian fragrant bananas, grown in Myanmar using imported seeds, will be exported from the middle of December through the Muse border, the official said.

He said the ministry started planting the imported seeds last April on 120 acres in Kyaukse township in Mandalay Division – 40 acres in Kalachaung village and 80 acres in Kyauksautkone village.

Each acre can support 600 to 700 banana plants, with each plant bearing seven to eight bunches of two to three kilograms each. The bananas can be sold to China for about K320 a kilo, the official said.

Farmers interested in growing bananas for export can contact Myanmar Agriculture and Farm Produces Trading (Mandalay) at (02) 36342 or (02) 36340, or the Mandalay Fruit and Vegetable Producers’ and Exporters’ Association at (09) 50-17051. – Ye Lwin and Ni Ni Myint

Lab upgrade

THE government of Japan provided a grant of US$89,755 on November 7 to upgrade the Central Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory in Yangon.

The money will go towards buying diagnostic and protective equipment to help the lab identify avian influenza in poultry.

Last March, an avian influenza outbreak occurred in 13 townships in Mandalay and Sagaing divisions in central Myanmar but timely disease control measures such as establishment of restrictive zones, slaughter and disposal of infected poultry, and disinfection brought the situation under control.

A statement released by the Embassy of Japan in Yangon said the grant was made to upgrade the lab because “the disease could reoccur at any time in future based on the experience of avian influenza in other countries”.
– Khin Myat