1 Sep
Following the COVID-19 crisis, India has been putting off bean purchase despite its requirements, U Min Ko Oo, secretary of Myanmar Pulses, Beans and Sesame Seeds Merchants Association (MPBSSMA) pointed out.
“We can guess there are bean requirements in India. They will respond to it sooner or later. The COVID-19 impacts hinder supply chain,” he said.
India rapidly changed the import period of 400,000 tonnes of black bean to three months by August-end 2020 from the earlier set deadline of March 2021, as per their official notice on 22 May.
Although Myanmar bean body has asked for deadline extension for import quota of 400,000 tonnes set by India, there is still no response, he added.
“India reportedly held a meeting on 25 August, yet it has not yielded any meeting outcome. Now, the quota period has expired, and there is still no official letter regarding deadline extension. In my view, they are holding up amid the COVID-19 impacts”, he stated. Myanmar has delivered nearly 100,000 tonnes of black bean of 400,000 tonnes quota. Around 200,000 tonnes of black beans are also stockpiled in the local market, the association stated. At present, Myanmar beans are demanded by Bangladesh, Dubai and Pakistan, beyond India, the association secretary stressed.
The prevailing prices of the black bean are pegged at around K950,000 per tonne, while pigeon peas are priced K815,000 per tonne, as per the market’s data.
Myanmar is the top producing country of black bean that India demands. Besides Myanmar, Australia and Africa grow other kinds of peas such as pigeon peas, green grams and yellow peas, the association stated.
By Nyein Nyein (Translated by Ei Myat Mon)
