Myanmar's government has approved a plan to establish the country's first wholesale fruit and vegetable markets as it seeks to develop closer trade ties with neighbours including China, reports the Myanmar Times.
The markets will be located in Nay Pyi Taw, Yangon, Mandalay and Muse, according to Minister of Co-operatives Kyaw San.
'There are no wholesale markets for fruit and vegetables in Myanmar. There are sudden changes in price due to lack of information and access so farmers often face losses from unseasonable low prices as they can’t penetrate new overseas markets,' he said.
The markets will promote local fruit and vegetable production and offer a number of additional services including coldstorage.
'The agriculture sector is still undeveloped,' said Minister of Agriculture and Irrigation Myint Hlaing. 'Therefore the president has instructed us to seek new overseas markets to improve farmers' income,'
Teh report added that the key producing regions of Mandalay and Shan State already produce export-quality fruit and vegetables, including potatoes, honeydew melons, watermelons, grapes and plums.
