THE prices of pigeon peas (red gram) slightly increased over K1.4 million per tonne following the rising black gram prices in the domestic market in spite of the low demand by India, said a trader from Bayintnaung wholesale market in Yangon.
The price of pigeon peas (red gram) touched a high of over K1.41 million per tonne on 18 June 2022.
At present, the price of pigeon peas in India is rising following the relaxation on bean import quota by India, according to Bayintnaung wholesale centre’s price data.
The domestic black gram prices climbed as India, the main buyer of Myanmar’s black grams, has growing needs in bean consumption. Additionally, India’s government hiked the minimum support price (MSP) of pulses. India extended relaxations of conditions regarding clearance consignment for black gram and pigeon peas until 31 March 2023.
Myanmar’s pigeon peas are primarily shipped to India, and also exported to Singapore, the US, Canada, Pakistan, the UK, and Malaysia. But, the export volume to other countries rather than to India is extremely small.
This year, the G to G pact ensured strong market next five years, along with other relaxations on import quota, Myanmar Trade Promotion Organization under the Ministry of Commerce stated. 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 gram, pigeon peas and green grams constitutes 72 per cent of bean acreage. Other beans including peanut, chickpea, soyapea, black eyed beans, butter bean and ricebean are also grown in the country.
Myanmar exported more than 6,300 tonnes of pigeon peas to the foreign trade partners between 1 October and 10 June in the current financial year (2022- 2023), generating an income of US$4.6 million, according to the Ministry of Commerce’s trade data.—KK/GNLM
