The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) will offer $150,000 worth of equipment to help coffee cultivators in southern Shan state, an industry official has said.
U Ye Myint, chairman of Myanmar Coffee Association (MCA), said the program will help growers in Ywar Ngan township.
“The United States is the only country helping Myanmar coffee cultivators,” he said. “With the help of USAID, Myanmar is able to penetrate US coffee market.”
American merchants visited Myanmar last month to sample the country’s coffee, according to Myanmar Coffee Association.
USAID has already given $200,000 worth of coffee cultivating equipment to Myanmar growers in southern Shan state, U Ye Myint said.
The US embassy says on its Facebook page that Myanmar coffee from Shan State has sold for double the price it fetches in the local market after being shipped with help from USAID.
Myanmar coffee cultivators are expected to raise productivity and increase shipments to US in the coming years.
In 2016, 36 tons of Myanmar coffee were shipped to the US, while 18 tons was exported to Switzerland, according to the Myanmar Coffee Association.
USAID is also providing training in how to use a moisture indicator, raising productivity, and post-harvest techniques. The body aims to help increase output to 40 metric tons of Arabica coffee across 20 villages in Shan State.
Source: Myanmar Business Today
