YANGON, February 4 (Xinhuanet) -- Myanmar imported 72.07 million U.
S. dollars worth of edible oil in the first 10 months of 2001, a
22.67 percent increase compared with the same period of 2000,
according to the latest figures of the country's Central
Statistical Organization.
   Myanmar produces over 380,000 tons of the oil annually,
accounting for only 76 percent of the country's total domestic
demand.
   Myanmar projects to yield 413,000 tons of edible oil during the
present fiscal year of 2001-2002 ending March, an increase of 32,
000 tons over the previous fiscal year, according to a forecast of
the state-run Myanmar Agricultural Service (MAS).
   The MAS under the Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation
expects that the increased production would be brought about
through growing of three main oil crops of groundnut, sesame and
sunflower in three arid divisions of Mandalay, Sagaing and Magway
in central Myanmar.
   Total cultivated area of the crops would expand to 2.55 million
hectares with sesame taking up 1.4 million hectares, more than
double the area of the other two crops.
   According to official statistics, annual edible oil consumption
of Myanmar is about 500,000 tons. As domestic production is still
falling short of demand, the country has to import over 100,000
tons of palm oil annually from Malaysia.  Enditem