Mung bean cultivation to outpace black gram in Myanmar

14-Nov-2025 08:49 PM

Yangon. In Myanmar, India's northeastern neighbor, mung bean prices are approximately 30 percent higher than black gram, offering farmers attractive returns and prompting them to prioritize mung bean cultivation this time.

According to Shyam Narsaria, Managing Director of Arvi International, a leading exporter, mung bean sowing has already begun in Myanmar for the main season, and both acreage and production are expected to increase.

According to the Managing Director, Myanmar is projected to produce a robust mung bean next year, with 500,000-600,000 tons. Although its import is banned in India, it remains in high demand in China and European countries.

As for black gram, its production may decline slightly from the current year's record level but could still reach around 1 million tons. Like mung bean, the area under pigeon pea cultivation in Myanmar is also expected to increase. Weather conditions remain largely favorable for sowing pulses.

In Myanmar, harvesting for the next new mung bean crop begins in late January or early February. Sowing has already begun, and acreage will become clearer in the next few weeks.

There is little prospect of an increase in the area cultivated for black gram. Sowing for both pulses begins at the same time, but harvesting for black gram begins in 70-75 days and for black gram in 90 days.

Black gram production has already reached a peak of 1 million tons, while next year's production is expected to be between 9 and 1 million tons. This year, the price of black gram has been above $1,000 per ton, while black gram prices have been recorded between $700-750 per ton.