Coffee cultivators from Ywar Ngan plan to export at least 50 tonnes of coffee beans in the upcoming coffee season

Coffee cultivators from Ywar Ngan township in Shan State are hoping to export at least 50 tonnes of coffee beans in the upcoming coffee season, said U Win Aung Kyaw, vice chair of Myanmar Coffee Association. Due to the weather condition being favorable for coffee plants, there appears to be an increase in production this season, he said.  

“Out of the 120 villages in Ywar Ngan, at least 80 villages are planting coffee over some 7,600 acres of plantation area. Many coffee growers plant as much as they can on two or three acres. During coffee season, they gather the crops to export overseas. This season, they’re hoping to export at least 50 tonnes and above,” U Win Aung Kyaw told The Myanmar Times on October 21.

\Last year, local growers in Ywar Ngan produced around 70 tonnes of coffee. Of this, 36 tonnes of special-grade coffee beans were exported to the US at a price of more than $7000 per tonne. Meanwhile, 18 tonnes of premium beans were exported to Switzerland at around $4000 per tonne. The remaining coffee was consumed locally.

“In reality, demand for Myanmar coffee from overseas is very high. Over 20 corporate buyers came in two batches last year. However, our production power is weak. If we can produce with modern equipment and machinery and processing is systematically managed, then a higher price can be fetched, and the market can be expanded,” said U Win Aung Kyaw.

He explained that buyers are willing to pay for high quality coffee produced in Myanmar. “They will first get their experts to examine the coffee and then proceed to buy according to quality. A price will be named only if the coffee scored above 80 out of 100 points,” said U Win Aung Kyaw.

As of now, there is no systematic production process yet and the townships lack modern equipment and machinery. In fact, the industry has been making do with a China-made pulping machine worth K500,000 as a substitute for processing the coffee beans. 

He added that the industry requires a lot of capital investments to scale up. Although local coffee planters are receiving foreign assistance, the farmers still need to more working benefits.

“Nowadays, there are those who get linked up with foreign buyers or even attend local coffee exhibitions. We have learned that while special-grade coffees fetch high prices, it is extremely difficult to produce. But, the farmers have experienced quite a lot too. The main thing is machineries. Right now, the grinding, separating, and production have to be done by hand. That increases the service cost. We’re currently fetching good prices for our coffee. We just have to cut down the service cost. Only then, will the industry improve and grow,” he said.

Demand for coffee produced in Mandalay is rising too. U Sai Wan, from Green Land coffee plantation, which is located in Pwin Oo Lwin in Mandalay, said that his company exported over 180 tonnes of coffee beans this year. Coffee cultivators in Mandalay began exporting coffee overseas just two years ago, including to the US.

In 2014, coffee prices in Mandalay were around K3.5 million per tonne. Today, it has now jumped to K4.5 million per tonne.

(The Myanmar Times: https://www.mmtimes.com/news/ywar-ngan-hopes-export-more-coffee.html )

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