Image Credit: https://www.facebook.com/thutamyay
To give people access to news and information on Myanmar’s agricultural sector, telecom operator MPT has teamed up with Myanmar Media Linkage to launch the “Thu Ta Myay” app, introduced on May 10. It’s built with a format that’s easy for farmers to read in Myanmar language, along with guidance aimed at boosting crop yields. As a solid online service, it’s meant for anyone across the country interested in farming, as well as anyone who wants to learn general knowledge and technology news online. The Thu Ta Myay app brings together agriculture-related news, technology tips, articles, weather updates, and commodity prices, alongside general-interest news and unusual stories, health and beauty tips, easy homemade recipes, and even an online TV section for entertainment — all in one place. It also includes a “Thu Ta Myay Quiz” trivia section, with a promise to answer questions from any field within 72 hours, which should be a nice bonus for users.
Myanmar Media Linkage was founded in 2012 by two young local entrepreneurs, and it was formally set up as a company in 2014 to operate more broadly and effectively. It started out running media operations, and has since expanded into technology services and agriculture as well. Myanmar Media Linkage has partnered with several government ministries and local and foreign companies, working to deliver better services to the public.
The Thu Ta Myay app combines input from agricultural experts and the Ministry of Agriculture, offering farmers tools to calculate yield based on acreage, guidance on seed use, and the ability to set their own cultivation ratios. Beyond farmers, it’s designed for the general public too, with content targeted at three age groups: 14–18, 18–50, and 50 and above. The app lists commodity prices for more than 20 crop products — including rice, oil, salt, and beans — sourced from major commodity depots across Myanmar such as Bayintnaung, War Tan, Meiktila, Monywa, and Mandalay, and it also offers new agricultural techniques and methods to help boost farm output. On top of that, users can read a biweekly digital magazine covering stories on Myanmar’s agriculture sector and rural life. The app runs on MPT’s dedicated, low-cost service at 105 kyats a day (commercial tax included), and to mark the Myanmar New Year, MPT is offering a free one-week trial to the public. To sign up, users can send an SMS with “TTM” to 8834 and follow the link they receive to download the app, or download it directly at bit.ly/ThuTaMyayApp. For more details, check the Facebook page at facebook.com/thutamyay or the website at ttm.lotayamm.com. Since Thu Ta Myay is aimed mainly at everyday users, the Android version has been prioritized for launch, with a web page planned to extend access to iOS devices later on. As a bonus for users who top up their accounts, a lucky draw running for two months starting May 15 will give away coins featuring General Aung San and MPT phones.