Shan watermelons fetch higher price than Myanmar melons at Muse border fruit market

SHAN watermelons are being sold at higher prices than Myanmar melons at the Muse 105th Mile at the China-Myanmar border gate fruit market.

Last September, merchants stopped selling watermelons because of lower demand from China. In the first week of October, China again sought Myanmar watermelons, and now watermelons from across the country are entering in bulk at the Muse 105th Mile market.

Watermelons from Shan State are called Shan watermelons, while those from Mandalay, Sagaing, Tada-U and lower Myanmar are sold as Myanmar watermelons.

Shan watermelons are hard and fresh because they are grown in cold weather and not often damaged, since they are grown close to the Muse market. Also, Myanmar watermelons are grown in the nation’s outer regions, which have higher temperature than Shan State.

Transporting Myanmar watermelons takes at least two days to arrive at the Muse market.

So, the price is a bit different between Shan and Myanmar watermelons, according to watermelon merchants.

“Shan watermelons fetch higher prices than Myanmar melons because Shan fruits are large and of better quality this year because of lower rainfall in Shan State. After 15 October, we can receive better-quality Myanmar watermelons. We believe that if our local farmers can grow good-quality watermelons systematically, the products can meet export standards set by China”, said U Kyaw from the Aung Hein watermelon commodity depot.

Currently, the price of watermelon is above Yuans 2,000 per ton, while low quality watermelons are sold at Yuans 1,600 per ton. The price of watermelon varies depending upon the quality.

Watermelon from across the country is entering the Muse market, with ten tons being delivered by six-wheel vehicles and 16 or 17 tons being carried on 12-wheel vehicles.

At the Muse market, Myanmar watermelon prices range between Yuans 1.00 and 1.40, while Shan watermelon fetches Yuan 2.00.

The Muse border fruits market is open from 6 am to 9 am.

Thant Zin (Muse)

(Translated by Hay Mar)

Photo - THANT ZIN (MUSE)

Ref; The Global New Light of Myanmar