Boer beans have become an important product in the north of the country with the opening up of the Indian market. It is estimated that nearly 300,000 tons have already been exported this year, representing 80% of the product.
Boer beans are one of the main dietary staples in India. With growing demand, in 2016 India signed a memorandum of understanding with Mozambique, which initially provided for the supply of 125,000 tons in the 2017-2018 season, and then increased to 200,000 tons per year until 2021.
With a guaranteed market, small and medium-sized farmers, especially in the center and north of the country, have started to invest in this crop, and it is estimated that around one million people are currently involved in the value chain, which runs from the producer to the storekeeper.
The entry of more companies into the agribusiness sector has further increased the value of the bóer bean, from the previous 20 to 28 meticais paid per kilogram to the farmer, to the 30 to 52 meticais currently practiced, representing a price increase of around 24 meticais, taking into account the higher price.
The export of pigeonpeas from Mozambique to India has been through a quota model, where each year a public tender was launched to select companies for quotas to export up to 200,000 tons. As a result, a public tender was launched in April this year, in which 33 companies were selected, including ETG, and others subsequently admitted to the competition.
However, at the end of last year India recorded low production and decided to abolish the quota model, opening up the market to buy all of Mozambique’s produce.
By the 15th of this month, according to the CTA, India had already bought 230,000 tons of bóer beans from Mozambique. At the moment, the volume of exports has increased and it is estimated that 80% of what was produced in the country has already left for India, confirming the release after much controversy.
