India, the leading buyer of Myanmar’s black gram (urad), is possibly to bring in 50,000 tonnes of urad from Brazil, citing news reported by the Hindu Businessline.
India has growing consumption requirements for black grams and pigeon peas. According to a Memorandum of Understanding between Myanmar and India signed on 18 June 2021, India is to import 250,000 tonnes of black gram and 100,000 tonnes of pigeon peas (tur) from Myanmar for five consecutive years from 2021-2022 financial year to 2025- 2026 FY. This G-to-G pact will not affect the pulses’ annual quota set by India. Myanmar’s exporters are also entitled to deliver the pulses to India under that yearly quota.
At present, Brazil and Argentina are also expanding black gram cultivation. India is likely to deal with them. Brazil is expected to ship at least 50,000 tonnes of black gram to India in June-July this year, Bimal Kothari, chair of India Pulses and Grains Association-IPGA, said.
Last year, India imported 5,000 tonnes of urad from Brazil. A delegate led by Kothari encouraged Brazil’s counterparts to ramp up pulse production. As India’s pulses output dipped in the 2023-2024 financial year amid climate-crisis hurdles in monsoon and winter seasons, the urad import remarkably increased. Consequently, India’s urad import rose to 623,000 tonnes in the 2023-2024 FY from 344,000 tonnes in the 2022-2023 FY, showing an increase of 19 per cent. India extended the free import policy of black gram (urad) and pigeon peas (tur) up to March 2025.
Agriculture Ministry of India forecast that India’s urad output dipped to 205,500 tonnes in the 2023-2024 FY from 263,1000 tonnes recorded last year.
India has been partnering with Myanmar for the black gram trade for a long time. Now, they are exploring new market sources from potential South America. Despite India’s decline in urad output, they are fulfilling requirements with imports from Myanmar and other countries. Myanmar’s black gram production is estimated at 660,000 tonnes. — NN/EM
