- Business
Myanmar’s sun-drenched vineyards bear fruit
Yamethin Township in Mandalay Region is the largest grape-growing area in Myanmar. Though grapes can be cultivated in many parts of Myanmar, different regions—with differing climates and soil types—require different methods of cultivation. Only sound knowledge can ensure high yields and good quality, fetching decent prices. With a growing number of growers, high quality grape juice, dried grapes, grape jam, grape seed oil, and grape seed powder—on top of wine and fresh grapes for eating—can claim a lucrative share of the domestic market and join Myanmar’s growing exports. A vineyard with Y-shaped trellises. This means of training grape growth is increasingly widespread in Myanmar. This grape plant is a perennial vine that needs watering once every five days. Though hydrophilic, the plant does not survive in soil with high water retention. Grapes fill markets in March, April and August, with limited availability in other months. After packing, the grapes are sent to the bus station to be distributed across the country. Boxes of grapes are carried by motorcycle to the main road or the bus station. Some wine companies ask for a contract to be signed with growers beforehand outlining the price and desired quantity of grapes to be…
- Business
Change afoot in southern Shan State’s premier tea town
PINLAUNG, Shan State — Visitors to Pinlaung, a hilly town perched 1,500 metres above sea level in the Pa-O Self-Administered Zone of southern Shan State, are greeted with the scent of tealeaves. The town, with its mixed ethnic Pa-O and Shan population, and its surroundings account for the largest area of tea cultivation in southern Shan State, and its shops are full of dried or pickled leaves. Sai Pon, who claims to have grown tea locally for close to 50 years, said recent tweaks in production methods have allowed for higher incomes with less work. “In the old days, the whole family had to contribute. New methods have saved time and improved the quality of tealeaves,” said Sai Pon, who lives in Koe Khaung ward. Koe Khaung was once a village before it joined the municipality. There is nationwide demand for its excellent tea, known as “Pinlaung-Koekhaung.” Sai Pon and other local growers said a more “systematic” approach, from harvesting to packaging, and closer attention to cleanliness, had upped quality further. According to Pinlaung Township’s agriculture department, tea plantations cover 12,000 acres. Around half of it is clustered around a higher-elevation village called Le Hlaung, 10 miles from Pinlaung town.…
- In-Depth
Girls raped for months in Ayeyarwady monastery
A village monk repeatedly raped four girls under his care, and is now on the run. Parents say the monk took advantage of their poverty.
