India to buy 1,000 tonnes of avocados from Myanmar

By Admin 12 Jul 2023

DMG Newsroom
12 July 2023, Sittwe

India has offered to buy 1,000 tonnes of avocados from Myanmar, according to U Myo Nyunt, general secretary of the Myanmar Avocado Producer and Exporter Association (MAVO).

Hass, an avocado variety, will be exported to India in January 2024 at market price. Avocado varieties produced in Southern Shan State, Northern Shan State and Pyin Oo Lwin will be exported abroad.

“We need GLOBAL GAP certificates in order to export Myanmar avocados to foreign markets. To get that certificate, MAVO conducts training courses for avocado growers,” he added.

The Myanmar avocado exhibition was held in India in 2018. In 2019, Indian merchants came to Taunggyi to buy avocados. 

“It is still a bit early to say whether India buying avocados from Myanmar is beneficial for us or not,” said U Kyaw Min Soe, an avocado farmer. “Due to the current foreign exchange rates, there are some inconveniences. It takes about four months to harvest avocados.”

Last year, avocados were consumed domestically as well as exported to abroad, and this year, the price of avocados is between K6,000 and K10,000 per kilogramme, he added.

Avocados are planned to be exported from the Tamu border trade zone to India. Myanmar avocados are currently only slated for export to the Asian market due to the high cost of transportation in the European market.

Myanmar’s avocado consumption is about 3,000 tonnes annually.

There are around 25,000 acres of avocado in Myanmar. Avocado is mainly grown in Shan State, PyinOoLwin and Mogok in Mandalay Region, Chin and Kachin States and in Naga hilly region.