May 10
THE prices of black gram and pigeon pea reached a record high in the domestic market, according to the Yangon Region Chambers of Commerce and Industry (Bayintnaung Commodity Wholesale Centre).
On 18 April, the opening prices after the Myanmar New Year holidays were K2.395 million per tonne of pigeon pea and K2.067 million per tonne of black gram. On 9 May, the prices surged to K2.495 million per tonne of pigeon pea and K2.195 million per tonne of black gram.
The figures showed an increase of K100,000 per tonne of pigeon pea and K128,000 per tonne of black gram within three weeks.
Foreign demand pushed up the prices. At present, the pulses are exported to India and China. The export volume is expected to increase in the upcoming months.
Strong foreign demand is a contributing factor to the price rise. At present, the pulses are exported to India and China. Rocketing price is expected to persist in the upcoming months.
India forecast Myanmar’s black gram output is estimated at 650,000 tonnes. This year, the yield rate is likely to fall by half owing to a reduction in sowing acres and threats of invasive pests, the growers said.
Myanmar earned over US$1.4 billion from over 1.9 million tonnes of pulses in the financial year 2022-2023, the Ministry of Commerce’s statistics showed. Myanmar primarily exports black gram, green gram and pigeon peas. Of them, black gram and pigeon peas are mainly sent to India while green grams are shipped to China and Europe.
India has growing demand and consumption requirements for black gram and pigeon peas. According to a Memorandum of Understanding between Myanmar and India signed on 18 June 2022, India will 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 annual quota.
Myanmar yearly produces approximately 400,000 tonnes of black gram and about 50,000 tonnes of pigeon peas. Myanmar is the top producer of the black gram that is primarily demanded by India, while pigeon peas, green grams and chickpeas are cultivated in Australia and African countries besides Myanmar. — NN/EM
