The sugar mill requested them to supply sugarcane only after cleaning dirt and roots.

The hike is to adapt to high sugar prices in domestic markets and cover the input costs of the growers.

Mya Bayin sugar mill has already announced to growers to offer K200,000 per tonne of sugarcane, up from the previous rate of K150,000 in the 2023- 2024 sugarcane season. The increase in the purchase price is to adapt to high sugar prices in domestic markets and cover the input costs of the growers.

Myanmar’s annual sugar produc­tion is estimated at 450,000 tonnes. Myanmar earlier sent sugar to China and Vietnam beyond self-sufficiency. At present, it is delivered to Vietnam only, U Win Htay, vice chair of Myanmar Sugar and Cane Related Association said.

Before the COVID pandemic, My­anmar’s sugar was sent to China’s border province. Later, sugar export was completely halted amid China’s strict policy on import items. There­fore, Myanmar’s sugar traders call for a quota to have a legitimate export to China. Myanmar enjoyed tax exemp­tion for preferential origin rules while exporting sugar to Vietnam.

Sugarcane is commonly found in the upper Sagaing Region, followed by northern Shan State. It is also found in the western and eastern Bago Region, Yangon Region and Mandalay Region.

The sugarcane is grown in Decem­ber-January. It can be harvested from November to February of the following years. The sugarcane growing rotation cycle lasts four years in Myanmar. — NN/EM