Price of millet grains increase to double against last year

The millet grains from various regions are abundantly flowing into the Mandalay market. The price has increased to double this year compared to last year’s rate, according to traders from Mandalay city.
The millets are utilized in making medicine and brewing beer or alcohol. That being so, the demand is pretty high in both domestic and foreign markets. The yield is high this year on account of the favourable weather this year. The price rose from K30,000 to K61,000 per three-basket bag during the harvest this year, said Soe Win Myint, an owner of Soe Win Myint depot from Mandalay.
“Millets are included in grains or species of cereal grasses. They are foreign species grown in Myanmar. The millets are widely grown in the central Myanmar regions and the growers reap success in this as they are climate resilient crops. They are highly demanded by brewers in Mongmit, Mogok and Monglon areas. They are exported to China in winter. The strong demand keeps the price high. They are commonly grown once a year. The price remains high and there is a probability of price rise this year,” he continued.
Large supplies of millets from Kyaukse, Thedaw, Wundwin, Taungtha, Myingyan, Mahlaing and Monywa areas are entering the Mandalay. The millets traders are doing a roaring trade for now.
They are grown in June and July and harvested in October and November. They are commonly found in Mandalay, Sagaing and Magway regions. There is no need to use pesticide and fertilizer so it is the cheapest cost-effective crop to be grown.—Min Htet Aung (Mandalay Sub-printing House)/EMM