CNI News
9 March 2024
In exporting bananas to China through Kan Pite Tee border trade since the banana season this year, because of unlicensed trucks entering from China, Myanmar truck owners are finding it difficult, said truck drivers.
Because banana farm owners are using unlicensed vehicles from China to export bananas, the number of times that Myanmar trucks carry bananas is decreasing.
Compared to the same period last year, Myanmar trucks had carried banana 20 times from November, when the banana season started, to March. However, at present, because of unlicensed Chinese trucks, a Myanmar truck has carried banana only eight times, Ko Htut, a truck driver from Kan Pite Tee, told CNI News.
" We can't carry banana many times because there are many unlicensed trucks here. Banana farm owners and Chinese people have bought unlicensed trucks. It's difficult for our licensed trucks. So, we have to go down until Mandalay and carry pumpkins and watermelons. We had carried banana more than 20 times at a time like this last year. But this year, we have carried banana only eight or nine times at most."he said.
While seeing tissue bananas
The number of unlicensed trucks that entered from China is about half of Myanmar licensed ones and some of Myanmar licensed trucks there have been parked reportedly. Some Myanmar trucks went to Mandalay and carry watermelon and onion from Mandalay.
Although the truck owners have to get a lot of money for transporting goods from Mandalay, having to pay the checkpoints along the way was a lot, said truck drivers.
In comparison with unlicensed Chinese trucks, the number of times Myanmar licensed trucks carry banana has been reduced about half. So, he wanted authorities to control unlicensed Chinese trucks, Ko Shine Way, a truck driver from Kan Pite Tee, told CNI News.
" The number of unlicensed Chinese trucks is about 30 to 40. It is about half of licensed Myanmar trucks. Chinese traders and banana farm owners have bought these unlicensed trucks. Some of our trucks go down to Mandalay and carry goods such as watermelon and onion from there. It's not difficult to go down to lower part, but there are so many checkpoints along the way. So, we have to pay a lot. Now about two third of our licensed trucks go down to carry goods from lower country. It is convenient for us if authorities can control unlicensed trucks. If they can't, when unlicensed trucks have carried banana six times, we have only three times." he said.
Tissue bananas grown in Waingmaw and Myitkyina Townships, Kachin State are being exported to China through Kan Pite Tee border trade and banana season is from November to June reportedly.
