Machines for coffee processing in the plant owned by the Mandalay Coffee Group Company Limited will be operational in early September. Professional coffee processing services using the machines will be offered free of charge to the coffee growers, it is learnt from the Mandalay Coffee Group Company.
The coffee machines in the plant are being installed with the assistance of Winrock International, funded by United States Agency for International Development (USAID).
Winrock International has been assisting Myanmar in their efforts to produce high-quality coffee since 2014. Myanmar began exporting quality coffee to America in June.
To penetrate the American market, Myanmar coffee was introduced during a promotional event held in Washington D.C on 23rd August, it is learnt from the Myanmar Coffee Association. The samples of coffee offered at this event drew very positive reviews. An American coffee import company recognised the higher quality of the Myanmar coffee and offered a premium price compared to coffee from other countries. The high-quality coffee from Myanmar is US$7,000 per tonne, whereas ordinary coffee costs US$4,000 per tonne.
Previously, coffee processing machines in Myanmar were all state-owned and provided by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). The recently installed machines were set up by the private sector, said U Ye Myint, the managing director of Mandalay Coffee Group Limited.
Source: Global New Light of Myanmar
