Officials in Canada are scratching their heads as to why India decided to implement a 50 per cent import duty on peas, which is the maximum allowed under World Trade Organization rules.
Gordon Bacon is the CEO of Pulse Canada.
He talked about the impact this move will have on Canada's pulse industry.
"It's a big shift. I think the question will be 'where will peas that now are not likely to go to India go?'. I think we take a look at the livestock feed market. We'll have a limit on how many peas that will absorb at what price. I think the good news in recent months has been this sort of proliferation of discussion about plants for processing peas in Canada and this huge demand for plant-based proteins."
Bacon said many people are confused as to the reasoning behind the move.
"Peas have been the cheapest pulse for India's population, which is why they're popularity has grown and so now to basically price peas out of the Indian market shifts a lot of focus now to other crops and what will happen to their prices."
Source : Steinbachonline