Yangon, July 6 – a fall in quality of green beans exported from Myanmar to countries within the European Union has subsequently seen the price of green beans also decline so far this 2016-17 fiscal year.
The beans, which fell in quality induced by the infamous El Nino weather front, are selling this fiscal year for between US$1,100-1,200 per ton, compared with last year which saw their value of the same quantity fetch US$1,400.
“The arrival of El Nino this year saw the quality of the green beans decline after shortly after sprouting, which is the reason behind the depreciation in their value.” said U Min Ko Oo, secretary of the Myanmar Pluses, Beans and Sesame Seeds Merchants Association.
“We don’t have criteria for the standard of green beans. We just work to meet the requirement they [the EU] set.” added Min Ko Oo.
Green beans cultivated in Myanmar are currently sold to the EU for US$1,200 per ton, approximately US$200 more than can be obtained from selling to China, India or other ASEAN nations.
Agricultural experts from EU countries are reportedly supporting the education of Myanmar green bean farmers, on methods that must be adhered to during every step of the cultivation process, in a bid to boost the quality of the beans.
The Myanmar Pluses, Beans and Sesame Seeds Merchants Association has made it known they expect between 15,000-20,000 tons of green beans to be exported during the current fiscal year, a must larger volume than just 7,000 tons which were exported during the 2015-16 fiscal year.
Source: Myitmakha Media News Agency
