Sugarcane cultivation on the rise: Implementation of contract farming system

During the sugar cane harvest season, there were more than 400,000 acres of sugarcane in the past, but at present, more than 500,000 acres of sugarcane have been cultivated in expansion.

Due to rising domestic sugar prices, special focus will be on local self-sufficiency. In addition, there are many sugar mills operating in Myanmar, plans are being undertaken to cultivate the sugarcane as a contract farming system, according to Vice Chair of the Myanmar Sugar & Cane Related Products Association.

Vice Chair, Myanmar Sugar & Cane Related Products Association, U Win Htay, said " As sugar mills’ operation increases, both domestic sugar consumption and prices are leading to the rise. As we are prioritizing domestic self-sufficiency rather than exports, we have not yet been able to export for orders from abroad in the current situation."

There are more than 30 sugar mills operating in the whole country, and also farmers and factories’ owners are urged to transfer contract farming system for the increased yield. Currently, many sugar mills are transferring to contract farming system and as a result, acres of sugarcane have been increased to more than 500,000 in comparing with that in the previous acres.