Government are striving to support technical system and equipment to local coffee industries to improve the coffee quality for wider market

High quality coffee beans from Myanmar have been exporting since 2016, and now the market reached to over 20 countries including Japan, US and Hong Kong.

A ton of Arabica coffee beans fetches a minimum of 6,000 US$ to maximum of more than 8,000 US$ depending on the quality, the local industry leader said.

There are about 35000 acres coffee plantation in Myanmar and it mainly cultivated in southern and northern Shan State and Mandalay Region. About 12000 matrix tones of coffee beans are producing yearly.

The local coffee industries are giving a hand to support coffee famers across the country in order to produce high quality products. 

Coffee Farmer, Ahlalkaing Village (Ywar Ngan Township), Nyunt Hlaing said “I have been cultivating organic coffee beans for 10 years on 10 acres land. There is no problem for coffee cultivation since it is our customary. We have been conducted trainings on how to grow good quality coffee beans. So we came to know more about our cultivation process.”

Genius Shan Highlands Coffee is one of the local industries that contribute to create job opportunities and to ensure a positive life to the farmers. Its industry has been running with over 14000 coffee suppliers from 9 States and Regions including 6000 coffee suppliers from Shan State.

Founder, Genius Shan Highlands Coffee, Ngwe Tun said “Our industry is running by buying coffee beans from the local coffee farmers- about 90% are from Ywar Ngan Township in Southern Shan State. Our aim is to contribute and to support the coffee farmers. And we also give awareness trainings on plantation but also production knowledge to the farmers.”

Ahlalkaing Village is one of the coffee grower villages in Ywar Ngan Township, and about 100 coffee farmers are selling goods to Genius Coffee.

Coffee Farmer, Ahlalkaing Village, Kyi Htwe said “Everyone is making a life by cultivating coffee beans in my village. And I have been in this for 15 years. They gave us training on how to cultivate the coffee plants. They also pay us double price than others. I have been working with Genius Coffee for 3 years.”

The government is also striving to improve good quality coffee production through cupping, to produce high-value specialty coffees for global markets and to support domestic coffee market for high-quality and sustainably with the help of international organization, the Chairman of Myanmar Coffee Association –Yangon Cluster said.

Chairman, Myanmar Coffee Association (MCA) – Yangon Cluster, Maung Maung Min Zin said “Myanmar Specialty coffee has been exporting especially western countries and other neighbor countries since the quality and taste of our coffees became beyond perfect. The government and other NGOs are supporting technical system and equipments to improve the coffee quality. And the government is also trying to get access to lands for coffee farmers in order to promote their living standards. We will try with all our might and main to promote our coffee standards to the larger global market.”

There are over 20 different types of coffee beans in Myanmar. But, Myanmar mainly produces 85% of Arabica, 14% of Robusta and 1 % for other types.

(Myanmar International TV Channel: https://www.myanmaritv.com/news/myanmar-coffee-local-coffee-industries-support-wider-market )

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