New export item heirloom beans open at higher price

The prices of heirloom beans listed as a new export item are rising in the brisk market, Mandalay bean traders said.
The bean has started flowing into the market since January. It fetched only K60,000 per three-basket bag in the corresponding period last year. At present, the foreign demand drives up the price to double (K120,000 per bag), according to the Mandalay Soe Win Myint depot.
“The prices of beans remain bullish during the harvest season. The heirloom beans started penetrating the Chinese market four years ago. It has grasped a firm market share in the present. It can be easily cultivated and they yield splendid in alluvial soil. As the bean is a lucrative crop, the locals considered it and called it luck. I am happy with the foreign demand on new export items beyond black gram, pigeon pea and sesame seeds,” an owner of Soe Win Myint warehouse said.
The prevailing prices of beans stand at K126,000 per three-basket bag of pigeon pea, K120,000 per bag of black gram, K115,000 per bag of chickpea and K300 per viss (a viss equals 1.6 kilogrammes) of peanut.
The rice beans are primarily cultivated in the alluvial soil of Ayeyawady River, Dokhtawady River and Chindwin River valley. — Min Htet Aung (Mandalay Sub-Printing House)/GNLM