28 May
By Nyein Nyein
With the changes in India’s policy on bean importation, Myanmar is unlikely to export the entire quota (400,000 tonnes) of black bean (which is called urad in India) for 2021 Fiscal Year to India within three months as there is inadequate stock in the domestic market, said Secretary U Min Ko Oo of Myanmar Pulses, Beans and Sesame Seeds Merchants Association.
Earlier, India set to import 400,000 tonnes of black bean for the next fiscal year by March 2021. It changed policy and narrowed the import deadline to three-month period, according to its recent notice.
“The changes of policy reflect on the unguaranteed market for the domestic growers. The sudden change in policy burdens the growers, raising confusion,” he added.
At present, the country has around 250,000-300,000 tonnes of black bean stocks. It is unlikely to export the entire quota of 400,000 tonnes to India, he continued.
Furthermore, it is impossible to ship all of them to India’s port within three months. India can grant import licence to Indian traders in June, the association stated.
The supply chain of Myanmar’s beans — the growers and traders are facing hardships due to short period of rapid change. The market needs to be closely observed.
“The country lays down policy for its national interest. India’s move is possible to protect their farmers as India’s beans will be harvested in September. This is why they shrank the deadline to August-end 2020. If the yield is not good in September, they will surely make an extension for the import period. If not for poor yield, the import period will end as scheduled,” he stated.
The prevailing price of black bean stands at K960,000 per tonne, while pigeon peas fetch K770,000 per tonne, a market data showed.
Myanmar is the top producing country of black bean that India demands. Besides Myanmar, other beans such as pigeon peas, green grams and yellow peas, are also grown in Australia and Africa, the association stated. (Translated by Ei Myat Mon)
