Myanmar plans to plant 20,000 acres of Robusta coffee

According to the Yangon Agriculture Department in Myanmar, there are plans to plant Robusta coffee on more than 20,000 acres of under-forest land over a five-year period starting from 2026, as an intercrop among perennial trees. The Yangon Agriculture Department stated that Robusta coffee is a low-altitude variety, and since last year, under the planning and implementation of the Yangon regional government, it has been trial-planted in home gardens as an intercrop with perennial fruit and industrial crops such as mango, durian, pomelo, and rubber. Farmers have received training and seedlings so that coffee can also be grown in forest plantation areas, thus starting cultivation in these locations.

In the Yangon region, of more than 40,000 acres of perennial crops, over 20,000 acres have been designated for intercropping with coffee, planned as part of a five-year plan. Through this initiative, areas that traditionally produce summer rice, monsoon paddy, oilseeds, and various legumes each year are being transformed into coffee-growing regions, helping Yangon develop into an economically significant urban center and achieve a balanced integration of industry and agriculture. Coffee culture is widely recognized in Myanmar and around the world, with demand for coffee continuously growing each year. Although flavor and aroma vary due to soil, climate, and seasonal conditions, Myanmar coffee has gained recognition in the global coffee market. Myanmar has developed over 200,000 acres for coffee cultivation, producing more than 9,000 tons of coffee beans annually. Production is primarily concentrated in Shan State and the Mandalay region, with small-scale cultivation also occurring in several other regions and states.