Pulses for a Sustainable Future: World Pulses Day 2023 held in Yangon

The commemorative event of World Pulses Day 2023 was held at The Corriander Leaf Dining Restaurant in Yangon on 10th February.

The World Pulses Day marking event in Myanmar was jointly organized by Myanmar Pulses, Beans, Maize and Sesame Seeds Merchants Association (MPBMSMA), India-Myanmar Chamber of Commerce (IMCC) and Overseas Agro Traders Association (OATA) aiming to raise awareness about the importance of pulses and to save the world from hunger and bolster food security worldwide.

At the event along with the presence of India and Nepal Ambassadors to Myanmar, the presidents and delegates from organizing associations, growers, traders and invited guests joined the discussion  and sharing about the 2023 potential market conditions and production estimates of pigeon pea, green gram and black gram.

Secretary, MPBMSMA, Min Ko Oo said "As our country is being exporter at present, demands from buyer countries are very important. As I leaned from the discussion by traders from India, the price of pulses are estimated at 750 to 900 USD per ton. So, I think that this year could fetch handsome price."

President, IMCC, Naresh Kumar Dinodiya said “Myanmar is the third largest producer of beans and pulses in the world and in Asia it is the largest, after India. And Myanmar is the very potential suppliers of beans and pulses into India, to other countries like Nepal, Srilanka, Pakistan, Bangladesh and some Europe’s countries. We are looking at the growth here, we are going to expertise also increase the production we are requesting the farmers to do that.”

As the activities of World Pulses Day, 200 bags of 5KG chickpea were donated each to Mahavihara monastery, Shwe BhoneYate Pariyatti Sarthintaik, Myaing Nunnery School, School for the Blind (Khaweichan) and Nwe Aye Sunni Jame Masjid in Yangon region respectively.

Myanmar have been growing pulse crops since the long times, and today they are the second most cultivated crops in terms of cultivation after the rice. According to the statistics of the Ministry of Commerce, the number of foreign exports reached a record of 1.39 million tons worth 1.08 billion USD in the current 2022-23 fiscal year (from April to 27th January).