NAY PYI TAW April 10
Chairman of State Administration Council Prime Minister Senior General Min Aung Hlaing met coffee entrepreneurs ofPyinOoLwin, Mandalay Region, at the meeting hall of Tatmadaw Guesthouse this morning.
Present together with the Senior General were SAC member Lt-Gen Moe Myint Tun, Joint Secretary Lt-Gen Ye Win Oo, Union ministers U Tin Htut Oo and U Hla Moe, Mandalay Region Chief Minister U Maung Ko, senior military officers from the Office of the Commanderin-Chief, the Central Command commander, region government members, officials of Pyin-OoLwin District and coffee entrepreneurs.
The initiation of coffee project in PyinOoLwin, land use and field inspection First, Union Minister for Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation U Tin Htut Oo explained the situation of global coffee market, plantation technology and sown acreage extension.
Director General of Agriculture Department Dr Ye Tint Tun and Director General of Forest Department U Htay Aung reported on the introduction of coffee project in PyinOoLwin, coffee growing in vacant and fallow land and forested areas, field inspection of land use in project areas, misuse of coffee plantation areas, information about rule enforcement, coffee plantation courses, distribution of seeds and saplings.
Progress of work and calls for government sponsorship in providing the needs Coffee entrepreneurs reported on collective efforts of departmental personnel and coffee growers for the success of coffee project, losses faced by entrepreneurs for the failure to link Myanmar market and global market, penetration of international market after the formation of Myanmar Coffee Association, successful emergence of coffee business, government-back collectiveefforts of coffee entrepreneurs to increase their share of the international market, illegal encroachment of the officially permitted coffee areas, and problem solving. The chief minister recounted the meetings with coffee growers for the success of the business.
Response for work facilitation In response, the Senior General said as the abuse of land permitted for coffee and the failure to establish plantations can hurt the actual coffee growers. Hence, work must be done in accord with the rules and procedures. The misuse of land allotted by the State for agriculture will not be tolerated.
So, measures must be taken to enforce rules. Amendments will be made to permit the erection of buildings supportive of the business.
Government and entrepreneurs to make concerted efforts to gain a strong foothold for Myanmar coffee in international market The Senior General continued to say that the coffee cultivation project has been implemented since the time of the previous Tatmadaw government. It can also be seen that the cultivation of coffee has been carried out comprehensively across the world. Although coffee was mainly cultivated and consumed in European countries previously, it is found that Asian countries have cultivated and consumed
it recently. PyinOoLwin coffee has been known to be aromatic and tasty for a long time. There are two techniques in cultivation of coffee including growing theplants under shadow and without shadow. Measures were taken to grow coffee under shadow in PyinOoLwin to prevent
climate change and to make the environment green in the country.
When land was allocated for cultivation of coffee, it was found that some entrepreneurs actually grew coffee but others did not. Action will be taken against those who failed to grow coffee in accordance with disciplines while measures will be taken against illegal settlement in plantations where coffee has been grown and losses and damage due to natural disasters will be reviewed. As squatters encroach on land due to the failure of entrepreneurs to grow coffee, it is necessary for entrepreneurs to utilize the land properly. Permitted land which failed to abide by disciplines will be confiscated and measures will be taken to carry out agricultural tasks systematically.
The Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation is responsible for successful cultivation of coffee and as departments are required to develop related policies for activities, implement them and supervise activities, it is necessary for them to carry out office operations.
In cultivating coffee, it is not enough to carry out traditional coffee cultivation and efforts must be made to cultivate coffee systematically by investing necessary inputs. Only then, can quality coffee be produced and the government will offer assistance to produce high quality products and to gain access to the market. As relevant ministries will take measures to offer assistance for necessary investment, it is necessary for entrepreneurs to exert efforts to achieve genuine success and to penetrate the global market for Myanmar coffee brand.
There are two coffee varieties called Robusta and Arabica.
As coffee cultivation takes large amounts of investment and time, it is necessary to achieve success by always studying the domestic market and the international market, boosting yields, producing quality products and trying to gain access to the market.
Disturbance to cultivation of coffee and security threats are unacceptable and departmental staff, entrepreneurs and local residents are required to join hands.
The government and the Tatmadaw have been promoting agriculture and livestock breeding and measures are being taken in the entire country to distribute local products to the domestic and international markets as value-added items and to contribute to development of socio-economic life and prosperity of the country. Last week, dry tea and fruit processing factory was inaugurated in Naungtaya in Shan State (South) to create job opportunities for local residents and to improve the socio-economic life of local farmers. These advantages will contribute to the prosperity, food security and economic development of the country. As the private and public sectors are important for economic development the government will offer necessary assistance and entrepreneurs are required toexert efforts to achieve success in their businesses.
Efforts must be made based on spirit of self-help approach for one’s own town and region In connection with PyinOoLwin, the Senior General said that being a colourful town with cool climate and shadowy trees and flowering plants, PyinOoLwin is always busy with domestic and foreign tourists in all three seasons. Guests are always crowded in pleasant homes.
Therefore, it is necessary to promote tourism by allowing tourists to visit coffee plantations.
As tourism development can help raise the socio-economic life of local residents, departmental personnel and local residents are urged to make concerted efforts for the cleanliness and pleasantness of the region to make the city into a pleasant place to live full of picturesque scenes. Local residents are urged to exert efforts based on the spirit of self-help approach for one’s own town and region systematically. There are two types of disciplines called supportive
and preventive disciplines and relevant officials are required to monitor the activities of local residents to enable them to act in accordance with the disciplines. It is necessary for all to try to maintain the good reputation of the region that has been preserved for a long time. It is important to carry out conservation works for historic ancient buildings and to preserve the internationally known fine historical background of the town. As the pleasantness of the town can be preserved if all local residents and visitors to the town abide by discipline, local residents are required to set examples by behaving properly.
After the meeting, the Senior General cordially greeted the attendees.