Agro exports up $81.9 mln in Oct-Feb

Myanmar’s exports of agricultural products from 1 October to 22 February in the current fiscal year increased to over US$1.28 billion from $1.2 billion in the corresponding period of the 2017-2018 FY, according to the trade figures released by the Ministry of Commerce.

In the exports sector, the agriculture industry performed the best along with the natural gas sector. The chief items of export in the agricultural sector are rice and broken rice, pulses, corn, and rubber. Fruits and vegetables, sesame, dried tea leaves, sugar, and other agro products are also shipped to other countries.

Nevertheless, agricultural exports have not seen a remarkable increase in terms of trade value owing to China’s tight confiscation on some agro products, including rice, since the second week of October.

The Commerce Ministry is negotiating with Chinese authorities to increase quota limit and carry out barter system for Myanmar’s rice and broken rice. It is also working to help farmers deal with challenges such as high input costs, procurement of pedigree seeds, high cultivation costs, and erratic weather conditions.— Ko Htet (Translated by Ei Myat Mon)