Traders and farmers are facing difficulties following a Chinese block on imported pineapples from Myanmar at the border gate in Muse, northern Shan State.
Local news sources have reported that China only allows the sale of fruits listed on a Memorandum of Understanding between the Chinese and Burmese governments—pineapples are not included among the eight designated fruits: watermelons, muskmelons, mangoes, plums, lychees, rambutans, mangosteens and rose apples.
“Farmers increased their crops of pineapples by tens of thousands of acres this year to meet demands from China,” Khin Khin Oo, the owner of a fruit import and export service at the 105-mile border trade zone in Muse, told NMG. “Now the Chinese authorities are blocking the import of pineapples from Burma. As a consequence, farmers, traders, sellers, and vehicle drivers are facing difficulties. They use to allow for the import of pineapples from Burma.”
Chairperson of the fruit selling association in the 105-mile trade zone Sai Myint Bo said that the customs department is enforcing the ban on pineapples, which began in June. Now, farmers are instead selling their excess pineapples domestically, and at a loss.
According to traders, Chinese authorities have also blocked the import of other fruits import, including jackfruit and avocado.
Source: bnionline.net
