JAPAN has offered many tonnes of dried bamboo shoots for purchase. Still, they're just able to export 10 per cent so far, due to raw material shortage, said the bamboo shoots and bamboo growers’ association chair, U Thurein Tun.
Currently, dried and wet bamboo shoots have been exported to China, Thailand and Japan.
Japan wishes to purchase more than 200 tonnes of dried bamboo shoots annually; however, only 10 per cent of the foreign demand could be exported due to inadequate raw materials.
"Bamboo shoots have overseas orders from Thailand, China and Japan. For the moment, we have exported dried bamboo shoots and dried fermented bamboo shoots. Dried fermented bamboo shoots are being exported to neighbouring countries, Thailand and China and the major destination for dried bamboo shoots is Japan. We have received an offer for more than 200 tonnes from a single Japanese company, but we could export only 7-10 tonnes due to inadequate raw materials, as a result of unsystematic picking from the natural sites," he said.
Now, they have sought permission from the government to allocate land for bamboo cultivation to meet the export demand, and when they have been granted land plots, they will ensure the good-quality bamboo production in accordance with their export goal.
"We have sought permission for agricultural land for bamboo planting from the respective departments to establish our own bamboo farms in collaboration with entrepreneurs. Apparently, they will give land, but official permission for planting hasn't been received yet. If we can establish our own farms practising proper techniques, we think we can export in accordance with the foreign demand and can produce a good-quality product too," he added. — Htet Oo Maung/ZS
