Betel cultivators from Myingyan Township, Mandalay Region, eye the winter growing season more than the monsoon season to reap significant profits, according to the Department of Consumer Affairs in Mandalay Region.

The erratic weather usually wreaks havoc on the betel farms in monsoon season. Also, pests destroyed farms, resulting in yellowing, curling and crinkling in leaves. The yield dropped due to the pest invasion, strong wind, flooding and decreasing number of farmers, the agriculturalists emphasized. Growers said that the betel farms braced for output drops in winter, raising the price.

The betel leaf can be plucked after five to six months of cultivation. They can be harvested for up to three to five years betel, depending on their varieties. The cultivation input costs approximately K2.5 million per 0.25 acre, including seed, inputs and wages. The betel leaves can be harvested within a ten-day interval. The output is estimated at 35-40 viss per month.

The betel cultivation needs systematic management and practices with antifungal activity. Moreover, betel vines need soil, yet they should not be soaked wet with excessive moisture to prevent them from dying and foot and root rot disease.

The betel cultivation is a labour- and income-intensive business suitable for small-scale farmers.