The United States assists Myanmar in establishing a boutique coffee growing system. Burmese coffee enters the US market.

Among all the coffee producing countries in Southeast Asia, it is undeniable that the frenzy about coffee in Myanmar (Myanmar) is already very obvious. Surprisingly, the first export to the American specialty coffee market began in 2016.

This is an ancient and truly fascinating country, and its recent history is puzzling.

The Government and military of Myanmar are under ongoing international review of the treatment of Rohingya in Rakhine State in western Myanmar. Indochina Coffee is committed to supporting partners in Mandalay and southern and. We are confident that our direct trade will really benefit the farmers we work with-most of them from marginalized mountain tribes that have only recently shifted from opium to coffee, the main cash crop. We believe that specialty coffee can provide sustainable long-term livelihoods in the region, while investment in local education and health programmes handed down from generation to generation will bring greater benefits.

We are very excited to be at the forefront of bringing these premium coffees to the UK and Europe-constantly building new relationships with farmers and producers and building on the close partnerships we are lucky to have.

Geography

Myanmar is bordered by China in the north and northeast, Laos and Thailand in the east and Bangladesh and India in the west. Myanmar has the largest tropical forest in mainland Southeast Asia and is rich in biodiversity, which contains rare species such as pandas and Burmese nose monkeys. The climate and local environment are ideal for coffee cultivation throughout the country, especially in the hilly areas of Shan, which extends to the coffee-growing areas of Yunnan and Thailand.

International assistance-success stories

If there is a good argument for the potential benefits of international aid to the coffee industry, this is the case. As part of the rural development value chain plan, Wenlock International and the United States Agency for International Development (in cooperation with CQI) began to focus resources on supporting coffee farmers in Myanmar to formalize better quality control measures in 2014. As a result, the quality of coffee has improved dramatically with the scale of initial international support greatly reduced, producers can now consolidate and accumulate experience and really begin to open up demand for their improving coffee.

At Coffee in Indo-China, our experience with non-governmental organizations and governments sometimes makes us naturally suspicious of such international development plans, in which good intentions often fail to translate into meaningful long-term results. On the face of it, however, the reduction of resources and the overall design of the rural development value chain plan seem to be very effective.

Of course, there is no denying that the cup filling scores of these coffees have improved significantly over the past three years (in some cases, as high as 90). Although some credit must be made for international efforts, most of the outstanding achievements are due to Burmese men and women involved in the country's nascent coffee industry. We are always proud of their achievements and with keen determination and determination to ensure that the specialty coffee industry continues to rank Myanmar as an important producer, not just the latest fashion.

It is also fascinating to hear speeches from advisers working with international aid agencies that have never been to this part of the world, who marvel at the difference in attitude: these guys are stubborn, says one. They listen, learn, continue to learn, then adjust and continue to improve their skills.

At present, the growing areas with the most stable production and export quality of coffee are mainly concentrated in the Mandalay region in the north / center of the country and Shan State in the south-east of the country, bordering Thailand, Yunnan and Laos. This year, we serve coffee in both areas. The northwestern state of Chin, near the Indian border, also produces some high-quality coffee.

Obviously, when you spend your time here, the climate, altitude and climate of many different parts of Myanmar are close to perfect-what distinguishes successful coffee growing / exporting areas is political stability and good infrastructure. That's a cruel reality. Unfortunately, if you do not have a local guide, it is not appropriate to visit certain parts of the country alone (for example, Kachin State, or even some parts of the northern Shan State)-indeed, even if you are officially "open" since 2011, officials will still restrict your visit to certain areas of Myanmar.

Although there is still a long way to go, things must be getting better. We are keen to ensure that the specialty coffee industry plays a truly vital role in shaping the bright future of Myanmar.