YANGON, January 9 (Xinhuanet) -- Myanmar has become the second
largest exporter of pulses in the world, replacing Australia and
standing only after Canada, according to the latest issue of the
local weekly journal The Myanmar Times.
   Quoting a head of a local trade organization, the journal
reported that Myanmar exported 800,000 tons of pulses in 2001, a
ten-fold increase during the past decade.
   U Tun Aung, chairman of the Myanmar Pulses, Beans and Sesame
Seeds Merchants' Association, attributed the possibility of
Myanmar to sustain and penetrate the international markets to its
increase both in quality and quantity of its pulses export.
   He disclosed that Myanmar has laid down future plans which
include introduction of a uniform weight measuring system and
cooperation with farmers.
   Myanmar mainly exports its pulses to India and Japan and new
markets are being sought in Jordan and Pakistan.
   The country's most popular pulses export items are black gram,
green mung beans and pigeon peas. 
   Beans and pulses are one of Myanmar's four pillar crops,
earning huge foreign exchange income for the country.  Enditem