Myanmar will ban the import of rubber seeds, seedlings and saplings from Thailand, where rubber plantations have been ravaged by the Pestalotiopsis fungal outbreak, as well as such imports from other countries, as it moves to protect its precious rubber trees. The Crop Protecting Unit of Myanmar’s Department of Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation (MOALI) announced that the ban, which affects the whole country, will remain in effect indefinitely, or at least until the next announcement is issued.
U Win Zaw, Head of the department’s Myeik District, said that “all people need to abide by it.” However, as the outbreak of the fungus would not affect the rubber market,U Win Zaw added that imports of raw rubber and rubber latex were still allowed without restriction.
The fungal disease has so far spread to Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, and apparently Sri Lanka – the fungus causes the affected rubber tree to lose its leaves and produce less/poor quality latex.