03 June

With the suspension of fish entering via the land route to central Sanpya fish market in Kyimyindine Township, Yangon Region to be able to prevent and control coronavirus spreading, the shop owners hope to be allowed to bring the fish into the market both via sea route and land route for rapid flow of the goods.

For the fish to enter via the land route, a media conference comprising the livestock entrepreneurs, fish traders, shop owners and market municipal was held at the central Sanpya fish market on 2 June.

“The market has been closed for 40 days. These days, we are struggling for the workers in our market not to be unemployed. The fish sellers are facing losses because the fish container trucks are not allowed to enter the market as usual. So, we requested the normal situation,” said Daw Aye Aye Moe, an aquatic entrepreneur.

Yangon City Development Committee (YCDC) suspended the fish entering the central Sanpya fish market via the land route on 24 April. There is only 20 per cent of the fish, entering via sea route and 80 per cent of fish, entering via the land route in the market. The volume of trade of the market is around 400,000 to 500,000 visses of freshwater fish.

“We have been sending the farming fish to the market for more than seven years. I have to pay K8,000 per day for labour charges and there are six workers. I am also being faced with the difficulties because I could not have sent the normal volume of the fish. So, I requested the authorities to allow us to operate our business in the market as before, said U Win Htoo Aung, an aquatic entrepreneur.

Under the guideline of the Ministry of Health and Sports, the market is conducting special cleaning, spraying of insecticides two days a week and keeping temperature machines, basins and soaps to prevent and control coronavirus, said U Kyaw Lwin, a member of the market committee.

To prevent people from being crowded, the YCDC allowed some shops to open in Shwe Padauk fish market. The sale of the shops in Shwe Padauk fish market jumped to K70 million from K30 million. The rent of the shops has also increased to K500,000 from K300,000, said U Myo Win, an aquatic entrepreneur.

The volume of trade of the market is around 400,000 to 500,000 visses of freshwater fish. There are a total of 146 fish depots in the market. Also, about 85 depots send the fish to other regions. There are over 3,000 fish delivery workers and over 200 female workers. 

Myint Maung (Translated by Hay Mar)