MYANMAR pulses export in the past eleven months of the current financial year 2020-2021 generated more revenue compared with the-year ago period.
More than 1.87 million tonnes of various pulses and beans were exported to foreign markets between 1 October 2020 and 27 August 2021 of the current financial year 2020-2021, with an estimated value of US$1.44 billion, the Commerce Ministry’s data indicated.
During the past eleven months, the country shipped $841.78 million worth 1 million tonnes of pulses and beans to foreign markets, and $600.46 million valued at 782,250 tonnes were sent to the neighbouring countries through land border.
Myanmar shipped over 1.6 million tonnes of different varieties of pulses, especially mung bean, with estimated worth of $1 billion, to other counties in the FY 2018-2019. During last FY 2019-2020 which ended on 30 September, the country delivered 1.6 million tonnes with an estimated value of $1.195 billion.
India is the main buyer of Myanmar bean, especially black bean, green gram and pigeon pea. Besides India, Myanmar’s bean are purchased by Bangladesh, Pakistan, Nepal, UAE, Malaysia, Indonesia, China (Taipei), Japan, and European countries. But, the volume of demand by those countries is small, according to the domestic beans market.
Following the policy change of India’s pulses import, the prices of black gram and pigeon pea have risen in domestic market, according to the traders from Bayintnaung Commodity Wholesale Centre.
At the present time, black bean touched a high of K1.5 million per tonne. Similarly, the price of pigeon peas is relatively high at K1.4 million per tonne. The price rise is attributed to the relaxation on bean import quota by India.
India set import quota on beans including black gram and pigeon pea starting from 2017. Myanmar earlier had to export black bean and pigeon pea under the quota system and limit period.
On 15 May 2021, India’s Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare approved not only black gram but also other pulses being imported from Myanmar that have bill of landing up to October-end 2021, with relaxation of conditions regarding clearance consignment up to 30 November 2021. According to this statement, the previous notifications dated 19 March 2021 and 26 March 2021 were cancelled.
Additionally, Myanmar can export 250,000 tonnes of black gram (urad) and 100,000 tonnes of pigeon peas under the G to G (government to government) pact during April-March period between the 2021-2022 financial year and the 2025-2026 FY, as per the Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of Commerce and India’s counterpart signed on 18 June.
At present, the demand of green gram slips due to border trade restrictions amid the COVID-19, with estimated value of around K100,000 per three-basket bag.
Myanmar’s agriculture sector is the backbone of country’s economy and it contributes to over 30 per cent of Gross Domestic Products. The country primarily cultivates paddy, corn, cotton, sugarcane, various pulses and beans. Its second largest production is the pulses and beans, counting for 33 per cent of agro products and covering 20 per cent of growing acres. Among them, black bean, pigeon pea and green gram constitute 72 per cent of bean acreage. Other beans including peanut, chickpea, soybean, black eyed beans, butter bean and rice bean are also grown in the country.
KK/GNLM
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