Ban on mung bean imports likely to continue

05-Nov-2025 02:52 PM

New Delhi. Although the Myanmar government has requested India to lift the ban on mung bean imports, the Indian government is unwilling to accept this, as India remains self-sufficient in the production of this important pulse and therefore does not feel the need to import it from abroad.

It is worth noting that in order to increase domestic production and encourage farmers, the government imposed a strict ban on mung bean imports in February 2022, and imports have been halted since then. Previously, significant quantities of mung bean were being imported from Myanmar.

Although Myanmar has found significant markets for its mung bean exports, including Europe, it is also interested in shipping mung bean to India.

Mung bean is cultivated in India during all three seasons – Kharif, Rabi, and Zaid – and its production is sufficient to meet domestic demand and needs.

Its minimum support price is also higher than other pulse crops, which maintains farmers' enthusiasm and interest in cultivating mung bean.

The government fears that allowing mung bean imports will harm indigenous farmers and reduce their interest in growing mung beans.

Mung beans are widely cultivated in Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Gujarat, and Madhya Pradesh, among other states.

Sowing of the Rabi season mung beans has begun. The Kharif season mung beans have suffered some damage due to natural disasters.