Perennial gum sterculia cultivation expands in NyaungU District

The number of acreages for perennial gum sterculia that produces tragacanth Gum aka Sterculia gum or Karaya gum, has increased in NyaungU District, Mandalay Region, according to U Aung San, a gum sterculia farm owner in Ngathayauk town.
The distance of gum sterculia is 10 feet in each row of cultivation. The growers in Kyaukpadaung Township, NyaungU Township, Ngathayauk town and Bagan city are expanding acreage of gum sterculia as they rely on rainwater for agriculture. The growing season starts in the monsoon. It’s resistant to climate change. Skilled tappers harvest the gum. Some growers turned to perennial gum sterculia as low rainfall affected crop yield, U Tin Htun Aung, a three-acre farm owner from Legwa village, said.
Myanmar Tragacanth Gum is generally exported to China. Additionally, Japan has shown interest in it, but it wants only organic farmed gum. —Ko Htein KPD, KK/GNLM