Discussions regarding mushroom exports is ongoing with the United States, said an official from the Myanmar Mushroom Cultivators and Distributors Association.
Myanmar is negotiating with the U.S. to export 100 tonnes of straw mushrooms annually. A company from China (Taiwan) is providing assistance in the discussions, said U Nay Win, the chairman of Myanmar Mushroom Cultivators and Distributors Association.
The discussions started in early 2016 and has not yet concluded, according to the association. The mushroom cultivation sector will be greatly enhanced when Myanmar’s mushrooms penetrate the American market, he added.
The prevailing price of straw mushrooms is about Ks10,000 per viss. Mushroom production in Myanmar is enough for local consumption, according to the association.
If the new export market emerges, the production process will have to be upgraded since the traditional method of cultivation currently practiced would not be able to meet the export demand nor meet the technical requirements in processing, said a mushroom researcher.
There was an earlier request to export straw mushrooms to China (Taiwan) in 2010. However, the production could not meet the demand, he said.
The mushroom growers are excited about the export market. The businessmen point out that the certificate and legal agreement is a must-have in export business, officials said. An exclusive variety of mushroom designated for export will be cultivated, according to the ongoing discussions. The processing will be conducted in a factory.
“If the importing company from America agrees to buy mushrooms under a contract, we can make efforts to meet the demand”, said Ko Aung Moe, a straw mushroom grower.
The Myanmar Mushroom Cultivators and Distributors Association was organized in 2006 under the Myanmar Fruit, Flower and Vegetable Producers and Exporters Association (MFVP).
Source: The Global New Light of Myanmar
