Classification
Product TypeRaw Material
Product FormDried
Industry PositionPrimary Agricultural Product
Raw Material
Market
In Kenya, dried mung bean (often marketed as green gram) is a pulse commodity sourced largely from rainfed, semi-arid smallholder systems and traded through informal and formal channels for domestic use, with intermittent export activity when surplus and quality allow.
Market RoleDomestic production market with intermittent exports
Domestic RoleFood legume for household consumption and trade through local wholesalers
Specification
Physical Attributes- Whole, mature dried beans with low levels of foreign matter and visible defects
- Low insect damage and absence of live storage pests at shipment/receipt
Compositional Metrics- Moisture control is critical to prevent mold growth and quality deterioration during storage and transit
Grades- Buyer specifications typically differentiate by cleanliness, uniformity, and defect tolerance (e.g., broken seeds, discoloration, insect damage)
Packaging- Bulk bags (e.g., woven polypropylene sacks) for wholesale/export lots
- Smaller consumer packs for retail where repacking is performed domestically
Supply Chain
Value Chain- Farm harvest → on-farm or village drying → threshing/shelling → cleaning/sieving → bagging → aggregation by brokers/wholesalers → warehousing → domestic distribution and/or export dispatch via Mombasa
Temperature- Ambient transport is common; avoiding high heat and humidity exposure helps reduce condensation risk in bagged shipments
Atmosphere Control- Ventilation and moisture management in storage reduce condensation and storage-pest pressure
Shelf Life- Shelf life is driven by moisture control and protection from storage pests (bruchids) and mold during warehousing and transit
Freight IntensityMedium
Transport ModeSea
Risks
Climate Supply Shock HighRainfall variability and drought in Kenya’s semi-arid pulse-growing areas can sharply reduce mung bean harvest volumes, limiting exportable surplus and increasing domestic price volatility.Contract across multiple counties and seasons; maintain alternate origins for continuity when Kenya’s rainfed crop fails.
Sps Quality MediumShipments can face rejection or heavy discounting if affected by storage pests, excess foreign matter, mold, or non-compliance with destination pesticide-residue limits.Implement pre-shipment cleaning/sorting, moisture verification, and pest-control/inspection protocols aligned to buyer specs and destination requirements.
Logistics MediumPort and inland transport disruptions or spikes in freight rates can delay shipments and raise landed costs for bagged pulse exports moving through Mombasa.Build lead-time buffers, book containers early in peak seasons, and use moisture-protective liners to reduce delay-related quality loss.
Sources
Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization (KALRO) — Pulse crops (including green gram/mung bean) research and extension references
Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development (Kenya) — National agriculture sector references for pulses and dryland cropping
Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) — Kenya agricultural statistics references (crop production context where reported)
FAO — FAOSTAT — Kenya pulse production and trade context (where available)
International Trade Centre (ITC) — ITC Trade Map — Kenya trade flows for mung beans/related pulse HS lines
Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service (KEPHIS) — Plant health and phytosanitary/quarantine references for plant product trade
Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) — Food commodity standards and conformity references applicable to pulses (where specified)