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Avocado Production in Myanmar - U Aung Soe*

* Horticulturist, Myanmar Agriculture Service, Yangon, Myanmar.
1. INTRODUCTION

Avocado was introduced into Myanmar over 60 years ago and it was first planted at Pyin U Lwin (formerly known as Maymyo), which is a hilly resort with pleasant weather. Pyin U Lwin is situated in the east of Mandalay. Its altitude is 1,165 metres and the average annual rainfall around 1500 milimetres. The minimum temperature is 9ºC.

The area of avocado was first expanded to the neighbouring towns of the northern Shan State and later to Southern Shan State; also, to Kayah and Chin States. Geographically, all these states are in the hilly regions which have relatively lower temperatures, with favourable annual rainfall distributed over a period of five months, from mid-May to mid-October. Avocado continues to be cultivated by the farmers as a backyard crop and no commercial plantations exist in the country.

The Myanmar Agriculture Service of the Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation has planted avocados in three government farms. These are:

- Dokwin Farm, Pyin U Lwin township, Mandalay Division (0.5 ha).
- Pwaytaung Farm, Pyin U Lwin township, Mandalay Division (5.0 ha).
- Lung Pi Farm, Falam township, Chin State (1.0 ha).
2. PRESENT SITUATION OF AVOCADO CULTIVATION

The cultivated area, yield and production of avocado in different parts of Myanmar are shown in Table 1.

Table 1. Area, Yield and Production of Avocado in Myanmar

District

State & Division

Cultivated Area
(ha)

Yield
(tonnes/ha)

Production
(tonnes)

Pyin U Lwin

Mandalay Division

155

8

1,240

Kyaakme

Northern Shan State

115

7

805

Lashio

Northern Shan State

2,110

7

14,770

Taunggyi

Southern Shan State

1,472

8

11,776

Loikaw

Kayah State

223

7

1,561

Falam

Chin State

35

6

210


Total

4,110


30,362


The avocado trees grown are all seedlings. Under normal conditions each plant bears 150 to 200 fruits and each fruit weighs about 0.33 kilograms.

The existing scattered trees are classified into three categories, which the local people consider as local varieties. These are: a) Anyo Myo, with dark coppery-coloured fruits; b) A Sein Myo, with round green-coloured fruits; and c) Buthi Pon Myo, with oval-shaped and small neck fruits. Up to the present time, no research work has been carried out on avocado in Myanmar.

3. PROPAGATION

In Myanmar, avocado is propagated by seed, and all raised plants are seedlings. Normally, one-year-old seedlings are planted out in the field. There are no budded/grafted plants as vegetative propagation of avocado is not practised.

4. CARE AND MANAGEMENT OF TREES

The young plants are allowed to grow freely until they reach a height of one-metre. At that time the top of the plant is removed to stimulate the growth of lateral buds. Usually, three to four shoots are left and taken care of to become the main branches of the tree.

Prior to the planting about 10 to 15 kilograms of manure are added to the pit. About 100 grams of 15:15:15 compound fertilizer are applied at planting time. Four months later, the same amount of compound fertilizer is applied. When the seedlings are at the age of 8 to 12 months, 225 grams of the compound fertilizer are applied to each plant. In the second year 500 grams of compound fertilizer are applied twice. However, the compound fertilizer is applied three times in the third and fourth years at the rate of 350 grams per split dose. For the mature trees 10:5:20 compound fertilizer is applied at the rate of 2 kg/tree.

During the rainy season, manual weeding is carried out at 30-day intervals, but the weeding interval is extended to 60 days in the post-monsoon season. Straw or dried leaves are normally used as mulching materials to prevent moisture losses from the soil. The plants are irrigated every 15 days if water is available.

Insects pests are not a serious problem. Sometimes in May and June beetles and caterpillars may appear in some regions, but can be controlled effectively with locally available insecticides.

Major diseases of avocado are anthracnose, downy mildew and powdery mildew. In some specific areas soil-born fungal diseases can be serious. The occurrence of Phytophthora cinnamomi has been recorded, but it does not appear to be a serious problem.

5. HARVESTING OF FRUIT AND YIELDS

Avocado fruits mature in about 180 days from the date of fruit setting. Under normal conditions about 150 to 200 fruits are harvested from each tree. In general, the fruits are hand-picked as soon as they are mature.

6. MARKETING

Harvested avocado fruits are packed in bamboo baskets with layers of straw to prevent damage during transport. The baskets are covered with polyethylene sheet. Each basket has a capacity of 70 to 100 fruits. The avocado fruits are marketed locally at present.

7. POTENTIAL FOR AVOCADO PRODUCTION DEVELOPMENT

There are good prospects for avocado production development in the country for two main reasons. One is that the nutritional value of the fruit is very high; it is very rich in vitamins as well as minerals. It is known that because of the dietary habits of the local people vitamin and mineral deficiencies are quite common. Therefore, the development of avocado production will help the local people to improve their nutritional standards. The second reason is that with the development of the hotel and tourist industry there will be an increasing demand for this fruit by the tourists who will be visiting the country, and they already know its value. Therefore, the prospects of marketing locally appear to be good.

8. CONSTRAINTS IN AVOCADO PRODUCTION DEVELOPMENT

At present, there is very little appreciation to this fruit by the local people, probably because they are not aware of its nutritional value. Another obstacle in its development is the unavailability of superior commercial varieties.

9. CONCLUSIONS

It appears that avocado has a good future for development in Myanmar provided that the people are aware of its high nutritional value. For this purpose, superior varieties of quality fruit will have to be made available for the farmers. These varieties should be vegetatively propagated in the nurseries.


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