Black gram price up by K400,000 per tonne over past three months

The price of black gram (urad called in India) has risen by K400,000 per tonne over the past three months, according to Yangon Region Chambers of Commerce and Industry (Bayintnaung Wholesale Centre).
The black gram fetched only K885,000 per tonne in domestic market on 1 May, whereas it touched a high of K1,297,500 per tonne (FAQ/RC) on 10 August.
The price rise is attributed to the relaxation on bean import quota by India. Nonetheless, the prevailing price has not reached a record high of K1.3 million per tonne registered in 2019-end.
India set import quota on beans including black gram and pigeon pea starting from 2017. Myanmar earlier had to export black bean and pigeon pea under the quota system and limit period.
On 15 May 2021, India’s Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare approved not only black gram but also other pulses being imported from Myanmar that have bill of landing up to October-end 2021, with relaxations of conditions regarding clearance consignment up to 30 November 2021.
According to this statement, the previous notifications dated 19 March 2021 and 26 March 2021 were revoked.
Additionally, Myanmar can export 250,000 tonnes of black gram (urad) and 100,000 tonnes of pigeon pea under the G to G (government to government) pact during April-March period between the 2021-2022 financial year and the 2025-2026 FY, as per the Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of Commerce and India’s counterpart signed on 18 June.
Myanmar yearly produces about 400,000 tonnes of black gram and 50,000 tonnes of pigeon pea.
Myanmar is the top producing country of black gram that India demands. Besides Myanmar, other beans such as pigeon pea, green gram and yellow pea, are also grown in Australia and Africa, Myanmar Pulses, Beans and Sesame Seeds Merchants Association stated.—NN/GNLM