Floating tomato cultivators successful with GAP

June 14, 2017

Floating tomato cultivators in Inle Lake, Shan State, are happy with the Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) system which is being implemented by the agricultural department jointly with the United Nilar Agribusiness Co., according to local cultivators.

For successful cultivation, United Nilar Agribusiness is providing GAP technology assistance and conducting demonstration sessions on the use of biopesticides for 50 acres of land from five villages. The agricultural department launched a public awareness campaign to help the local cultivators two times per week.

Previously, local cultivators from the Inle Lake region used chemical fertilizers and pesticides for their farming. Now, the floating tomato cultivators are using the GAP system, which can reduce the cost of growing tomatoes. The Inle cultivators usually plant tomatoes annually during the monsoon and winter seasons. Growing tomatoes using the GAP system is useful for both local cultivators and consumers. Currently, United Nilar Agribusiness Co. Ltd is providing biopesticides free of charge to the local farmers. The department is also conducting a safe cultivation course, said U Aye Ko Ko, the deputy director-general of the agricultural department.

“The local cultivators are happy to grow the crops. We also provided Ks0.3 million per acre to 50 acres of land as well as the biopesticides. The products from these 50 acres of land can penetrate the local market, but not the international market. We expect to penetrate the Asia market when Asian Free Trade Area (AFTA) is implemented”, said U Kyaw Tun, the general manager from United Nilar Agribusiness Co. Ltd.

There are over 1,000 acres of land in Shan state which are owned by the agricultural department. United Nilar Agribusiness held a floating tomato cultivation demonstration at Hupin hotel, Khaung Dine village, Nyaung Shwe township on 12 June.

The demonstration ceremony was jointly held by United Nilar Agribusiness and Shan State Agricultural Department.
Sai Lon Kyaw, the Shan State government agriculture, livestock and irrigation minister, Dr. Nyi Nyi Aung, the state resources and environmental conservation minister, Dr. Tun Hlaing, the state ethnic affairs minister, U Cho Naing Tun of the state agricultural department and officials from United Nilar Agribusiness attended the demonstration ceremony.

By Soe Win-MLA

Ref; The Global New Light of Maynmar