6 Jan
The Mandalay market is witnessing the entry of fresh green grams (Shwe Wah variety) at harvest time.
“About five 12-wheeled trucks of green grams entered the Mandalay market daily in end-December. Those grams were produced in Bago Region. This year, the yield of green grams has been high due to favorable weather.
Also, the price is higher than last year. In May last year, India purchased 200,000 tons of Myanmar green grams under its import quota. The growers hope to get a similar deal in 2020,” said U Soe Win Myint from Mandalay.
Green grams (Shwe Wah variety) from Madaya and Singu townships of Mandalay Region and Myaung and Myinmu townships of Sagaing Region are also flowing into the Mandalay market.
On account of steady demand from China, the price of Myanmar’s green grams is ranging between K116,000 and K120,000 per three-basket bag. The price per three-basket bag is K10,000 higher than last year.
Among beans and pulses, mung beans is the main export item of Myanmar, followed by green grams.
China accounts for 60 per cent of Myanmar’s green gram exports, according to the Commerce Ministry.
Countries in the European Union also purchase green grams from Myanmar. The export volume of green grams to India is lower compared to other countries, said an official from the Commerce Ministry.
In the first month (October) of the 2019-2020 fiscal year, more than 80,000 tons of various pulses and beans were exported by the country.
Myanmar’s green gram exports were registered at over 330,000 tons in the 2015-2016 fiscal year, over 400,000 tons in the 2016-2017FY, and over 350,000 tons in the 2017-2018FY. Green grams are mostly exported to China through the border trade channels.
Of the total pulses exports, green grams accounted for over 26 per cent of the exports in the 2015-2016FY, over 28 per cent in the 2016-2017FY, and over 26 per cent in the 2017-2018FY.
Green grams are primarily grown in Sagaing, Magway, Mandalay, Yangon, Bago, and Ayeyawady regions and Mon and Kayin states. — Min Htet Aung/Ko Khant (Translated by EMM)
