Chickpea prices spiked on account of the strong foreign and domestic demand, according to the Mandalay Commodity Centre.
Although chickpea is abundantly harvested, exporters, traders who store the stocks in hands and millers are increasingly purchasing them amid growing domestic consumption.
The prices moved in the range between K184,000 and K191,000 per 56.25/57.25 viss on 1 March 2023 and jumped to K203,000 and K209,000 per 56.25/57.25 viss depending on varieties on 25 March.
The figures showed a sharp increase of K17,000-K19,000 per 56.25 visses over three months.
At present, chickpea is provided by Sagaing, Monywa, Tagaung, Kyanyat, Kyaukse and Kume areas to the Mandalay Commodity Centre.
The chickpea is a winter crop and is usually grown in October and November. The harvest season is from January to April. They are mostly found in Bago, Ayeyawady, Sagaing and Magway regions.
The country primarily cultivates paddy, corn, cotton, sugarcane, various pulses and beans. Its second-largest production is pulses and beans, accounting for 33 per cent of agro products and covering 20 per cent of growing acres. Among them, black beans, pigeon peas and green grams constitute 72 per cent of bean acreage. Other beans including peanuts, chickpeas, soybeans, black-eyed beans, butter beans and rice beans are also grown in the country. Agriculture is the backbone of Myanmar’s economy. Among agricultural products, various beans and pulses are the main items.
Myanmar ships chickpeas to foreign markets beyond self-sufficiency. More than 18,000 kilogrammes worth US$12.978 million have been exported to foreign countries so far since April 2022, according to the Ministry of Commerce’s statistics. — NN/EM
