PROGRAM DETAILS

Product: Pulses
Program Phase: Research
Program Partners: Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR)

THE CHALLENGE

Myanmar’s pulse sector is vulnerable to market fluctuations, given its heavy reliance on India and China as trade partners. Currently, 70% of Myanmar’s exports, by volume, of the ‘big four’ pulse types (black gram, green gram, chickpea, and pigeon pea) are exported to the two countries.

The pulse sector has historically been production-focused, with little pressure to consider demand drivers given its two strong trade partners. However, both India and China are making concerted efforts towards self-sufficiency, creating the need for Myanmar to build greater resilience in its pulse and broader agriculture sectors.

​Market development is critical to shifting the pulse sector to become demand driven, identifying untapped or under-utilised markets as well as opportunities to add value.

A demand driven pulse sector will help improve its resilience and ultimately improve the resilience of smallholder farmers.

​This program follows on from the Myanmar Private Sector Agribusiness Landscape Analysis conducted in 2018-19

THE APPROACH

Business for Development is using research, analysis, and stakeholder engagement to answer the following questions:

• What are the top domestic and international market opportunities available to the Myanmar pulse industry, based on the extent of value chain improvements required to access these opportunities and the distribution of value along the value chain, prioritising the return to smallholder farmers?
• What improvements in the value chain are required, which stakeholders contribute to improvement challenges and which are best positioned to drive the changes required to access top market opportunities?
• What improvements in the enabling environment are required, which stakeholders contribute to improvement challenges and which are best positioned to drive the changes?

THE RESULTS

The aim of the pulse market development analysis is to understand Myanmar’s export and domestic market opportunities. This involves the identification of potential trade partners, understanding which pulse types or pulse alternatives are in demand (current and future), identifying value add opportunities for pulses, and understanding how much customers are willing to pay for each of these commodities.

​A value chain analysis will identify areas that require investment to better access existing and new market opportunities and to maximise benefits returned to smallholder farmers.