Expand the export market of pulses and beans through increased yield

Myanmar, an agri-based country, emphasizes the export of agricultural produce as the majority of items to earn income for the businesspersons as well as for the State. The agricultural produce, particularly pulses and beans, is flowing out to the international market through maritime and border trade routes.

Local farmers across the nation produce agricultural products such as paddy, maize, groundnut, sesame, pulses and beans, cotton and sugarcane. Among them, pulses and beans stand second in agri­cultural produce in the entire nation, accounting for 33 per cent. Such kinds of beans are placed on 20 per cent of cropland areas in total.

Mostly, the top cash crops namely black bean, green gram and pigeon pea take positions on two-thirds of the total croplands of pulses and beans plantations. The remaining areas are placed under various kinds of beans including kidney beans, butter beans, white-eyed beans, chickpeas, soya beans, cowpea, horse gram and others.

As part of earning incomes for businesspersons and levy­ing revenue for the State, black bean and pigeon peas are pri­marily exported to India and green gram to China and Eu­ropean countries. Currently, the Ministry of Commerce is striving for stretching its wings into foreign markets with the export of Myanmar’s pulses and beans.

Only when the market of the export products is expand­ed and market shares grasped will Myanmar products includ­ing beans have to catch the at­tention of customer countries. As such, it is necessary to em­phasize the export of quality products and guarantees free from dangers to have the mar­ketable prospect of Myanmar products and grasp the market share.

Globally, the modern markets demand an inflow of products which must be in conformity with the rules and regulations of the safe food supply process. If the export items are refused to be accepted due to lower quality, exporters will face great losses. Consequently, they may face a loss of market for their products in the long run.

In the 2020-21 financial year, Myanmar earned some US$1.6 billion in the export of pulses and beans. All participants in the chains of production need to strive for expanding the market of beans in order to benefit the State and those who participate in the chains of production as well as the entire people.

Hence, all businesspersons need to take care of food production chains at different levels from the cultivation to the export market through food processing, storage and transport in accord with the health restrictions to sustainably maintain their reputation in the exportation arena.