Myanmar ships over 172,000 tonnes of pigeon pea this FY

Myanmar exported more than 172,708 tonnes of pigeon pea to the foreign trade partners between 1 October 2020 and 30 July 2021 in the current financial year 2020-2021, generating an income of US$114.9 million, according to the Ministry of Commerce’s trade data.
At present, the price of pigeon pea in India is rising following the relaxation on bean import quota by India. The pigeon pea fetched around K1,302,500 per tonne, according to Bayintnaung wholesale centre’s price data.
Myanmar’s pigeon pea is primarily shipped to India, and also exported to Singapore, the US, Canada, Pakistan, the UK, and Malaysia. But, the export volume to other countries rather than to India is extremely small.
The domestic bean market is positively related to the law of supply and demand, said an official of Myanmar Pulses, Beans and Sesame Seeds Merchants Association.
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 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 the 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 Indian counterpart which signed on 18 June.
This year, the G to G pact ensured strong market next five years, along with other relaxations on import quota, the Myanmar Trade Promotion Organization under the Ministry of Commerce stated.
Myanmar’s agriculture sector is the backbone of country’s economy and it contributes to over 30 per cent of Gross Domestic Products. The country primarily cultivates paddy, corn, cotton, sugarcane, and various pulses and beans. Its second largest production is the pulses and beans, accounting for 33 per cent of agro products and covering 20 per cent of growing acres.
Among them, black gram, pigeon pea and green gram constitute 72 per cent of bean sown acreage. Other beans including peanut, chickpea, soybean, black eyed bean, butter bean and rice bean are also grown in the country.—MM/GNLM