Myanmar's flower sector yet has to bloom
On the 4th of December 2019, the first Flower Forum was held in Pyin Oo Lwin. Also called the ‘Flower Garden of Myanmar’, the mountainous region in Shan State is one of the largerst flower production sites in Myanmar. At the forum, an initiative from the Horticulture Working Group within Myanmar Agriculture Network (MAN), local flower sector actors came together.
Flower Sector Report
Last year, the ‘Myanmar Flower Sector Quick Scan Report’ was launched and discussed with the Dutch flower industry. Additionally, relevant public stakeholders in Myanmar as the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation (MoALI) and Yezin Agricultural University have discussed the report.
Flower Forum
The aim of the Flower Forum was to discuss the report with the private flower sector in Myanmar. Flower growers, together with flower shop sellers, business and government representatives debated the possible interventions and solutions that cater to the organizations and professionalization of a sustainable flower sector in Myanmar. A rose which yet has to blossom, the flower sector in Myanmar has a great potential. However, one of the challenges that is present in the sector, growers expressed, they felt that they are operating in the dark. Data about prices are mostly not available, an issue which is also present in other sectors. Technology and skills to support production, storage and further handling, as well as availability of different flower varieties and quality seeds are lacking. In order to increase incomes and also to compete with other countries in the region, especially China was mentioned, first of all the quality of flowers, thus the quality of seeds and bulbs has to improve.
Future National Myanmar Flower Association
In order to make the sector economically sustainable and in a later stage to compete with countries in the region, the stakeholders at the forum agreed that cooperation and better communication within the sector in Myanmar itself needs to be developed. As of today, there is no formal organization present in the country where all stakeholders in the flower sector are collectively organized. For the future, the growers, sellers and government representatives agreed, that the formation of such an association would benefit the sector in making it an established sector. The potential is there, and the attendees acknowledged that this first flower forum is a very good step forward in discussing the sector needs: what challenges for growers are present and how to address these in professionalizing the sector.
Read the ‘Myanmar Flower Sector Quick Scan Report’, formulated by GMBS Business Support.
