Regional Development: EFY Processing Factory Opened In Chin State

Chin State has seen its very first factory of elephant foot yam(EFY) processing. The factory is the product of a unique collaboration between Farmer Groups from three townships in Chin State.

The Farmer Groups, from Mindat, Matupi, and Kanpetlet townships, came together to form Chin Hills Treasure Company (CHTC) with the aim of establishing the factory to increase farmers’ incomes. The new factory was officially opened on 26th January in Htin Chaung Village, Mindat Township.

The new factory, which will produce diced and dried yam chips initially for the Chinese market, will employ around 35 people.

CHTC has already signed a contract with the three Farmer Groups to purchase raw fruit from 63 villages. A total of 800 farmers will initially supply the factory with collection centres in each of the three townships. The factory will receive a market price expected to range from 15,000 to 20,000 Kyats per viss, compared to 11,000 kyats currently, a premium of at least 36%.

The Chin Hills Treasure Company has received financial and technical support from the Myanmar Fruit, Flower and Vegetable Producer and Exporter Association’s  project named “CAEFY: Coffee; Avocado; and Elephant Foot Yam (EFY)”, which is funded by UK aid through the DaNa Facility.

The factory will process up to 12 tons of fresh yams per day, with a target of 300 tons in 2020, increasing to 500 tons in subsequent years.

In the coming years, CHTC intends to broaden its product lines to include flour and powdered food ingredients and plans to market its products to additional markets in nearby Asian countries.