09 June
THE prices of green gram and sesame seeds are sharply falling due to the depreciation of Yuan, coupled with high transport charges, Mandalay bean traders said.
“In recent days, the trucks have to send only export items to Muse market, yet there is nothing to be unloaded back. As a result of this, the truck charges go higher. Moreover, the weakening of Yuan affects the prices of pulses and beans. During the tight security measures and suspension of trade to contain the spread of coronavirus, green gram fetched K120,000 per three-basket bag. Despite the gradual resumption of trade, the price is drastically down by K20,000.
“Similarly, the price of sesame (Samone variety) plunges by K50,000 per bag and so does other varieties of sesame seeds such as white sesame, black sesame,” said an owner of U Soe Win Myint depot in Mandalay.
Despite the drop in price, more than 20,000 bags of green grams are daily entering the Mandalay market from various regions and states. It is highly traded at a low price for now.
“It is good that there is a steady demand in that situation. If the price goes lower than that, the growers will suffer a loss. Meanwhile, black bean and pigeon peas are regularly sent to India's market. The chickpeas and other beans are frequently traded in the domestic market as well,” he continued.
The current price stands at K100,000 per bag for green gram, K160,000 for sesame (Samone variety), K93,000 per bag for black bean and K72,000 per bag for pigeon peas.
Min Htet Aung (Mandalay Sub-Printing House) (Translated by Ei Myat Mon)
