SMP-19070 Establishing an independent Variety Testing Service in Myanmar (BO-48-003-004)

A number of Dutch-affiliated companies are increasingly interested in starting or expanding their business in Myanmar. Companies include: Bejo, East West Seeds, Enza, RijkZwaan and Syngenta Vegetable Seeds. A number of them have already registered their varieties while others are in the process of doing so. All of them experience the registration process as cumbersome and one of the major hurdles of becoming more active in the Myanmar vegetable seed market. In recent discussions with them the plan was put forward to collaborate on these issues and organize the registration process together, through a third party. The latter is made possible by Myanmar Law, which allows for testing varieties on private farms or farmer fields. In addition, the companies would like to explore other activities like pre-screening trials, research trials, and demonstration trials.