Farms.com Home › Ag Industry News

Saskatchewan’s pulse industry hit hard by India’s export restrictions

Dec 01, 2017

Subscribe to our Newsletters

Lentil prices drop to half their summer levels

By Kate Ayers

Staff Reporter

Farms.com

Ripple effects from the Indian ban on Canadian pulse imports continue to take their toll on Canadian producers.

Saskatchewan has the highest lentil production in Canada, so these export restrictions have a big effect on the province, according to an online CBC article on Thursday.

As a result of this trade situation, the price of lentils has dropped to almost half its value since the summer, Saskatchewan’s Minister of Agriculture said to CBC.

“That’s a huge loss to our producers,” said Lyle Stewart.

“The pest they want us to fumigate for doesn’t exist in Canada, and the chemical that you have to use to kill them is illegal in Canada. That’s our problem.”

India is steadfast in its decision to not extend its waiver. Canadian officials, including Stewart, haven’t made much progress on the issue, despite their efforts to find solutions.

“India’s made concessions to other countries on this matter but not Canada,” said Stewart. (India granted other countries an extension until Dec. 31.)

Previously, Canada was India’s preferred lentil provider. This restriction is the first time since 2004 that Canada has not been given the extension.

In addition, India spontaneously declared a 50 per cent tariff on all dry pea imports on Nov. 8, according to the CBC article.

“Something’s changed, and nobody can get a really solid handle on what’s driving this,” Stewart said to CBC.

The tariff will impact farmers’ plans for the 2018 growing season.

“It’s tough to know how long this import duty will be in place but we think it will likely remain in place as farmers make planting decisions for the upcoming cropping season,” Carl Potts, executive director of Saskatchewan Pulse Growers, said to Farms.com today.

“As much as we would like for changes to be made, I think the reality is that (the tariff) will impact planting decisions for the upcoming year.”

Canadian pulse exports to India were valued at $1.1 billion in 2016.

Updated December 4, 2017

Video: The FCDC and AgSmart Bring Plant Breeding to a Wider Audience

In the vast prairies of Alberta, Olds College’s Field Crop Development Centre (FCDC) stands as a beacon of innovation and research in the agricultural world. The institution has become a key player in advancing agricultural technologies and practices. The FCDC’s commitment to applied research has driven them to seek effective means of disseminating their findings and creating a positive impact on the farming community.

One such avenue that aligns with their mission is AgSmart, an event dedicated to showcasing cutting-edge agricultural technologies. The coming together of the FCDC’s annual Field Day and Ag Smart has proved to be a natural fit, fostering a synergy that benefits both parties and propels the agriculture industry forward. The FCDC Field Day took part in conjunction with AgSmart for the first time this week on Aug. 1-2 in Olds, Alta. FCDC Program Director Kofi Agblor and Olds College VP of Development Todd Ormann sat down for an interview with Marc Zienkiewicz to discuss the significance of the two events taking part together and what the future holds.

The Intersection of Research and Technology The essence of the FCDC lies in its dedication to plant breeding and new seed varieties, particularly barley and triticale. While conducting research is essential, it becomes meaningful when its benefits are shared with the wider community. This is where AgSmart steps in, providing a key venue for the FCDC to showcase their research. This union between research and technology creates a holistic and enriching experience for farmers, ranchers, and industry professionals, the pair said.

Seeds as Technology For the FCDC, the partnership with AgSmart goes beyond mere event collaboration. It is about creating an environment that bridges the gap between seeds and smart technology, Ormann said. The college believes that for technology to truly revolutionize agriculture, it must begin with a strong foundation — high-quality seeds. As the saying goes, “it all starts with a seed.” To demonstrate this critical aspect, the collaboration aims to showcase the seed value chain as an integral part of the smartphone.

The Birth of a Powerful Alliance The idea of joining forces emerged when staff realized the potential synergy between AgSmart and the FCDC Field Day. With just a few days separating the two events, a proposal was put forward to merge them. The marketing and communications teams from both sides worked seamlessly to ensure the essence of both events remained intact, creating a powerful alliance that leverages the strengths of each, Agblor said.

Driving Advancements in Breeding For Agblor, the partnership with AgSmart has tremendous potential to drive advancements in breeding and other technology. With technologies like drones and imaging becoming integral to phenotyping, breeding is no longer confined to vast fields to assess thousands of plants manually. Instead, it benefits from the data-rich insights brought about by smart technologies. These advancements make breeding more efficient, precise, and instrumental in shaping the future of agriculture.

Overcoming Challenges Together While the partnership between Olds College and Ag Smart has been a resounding success, there are challenges on the horizon. Securing stable funding for long-term breeding initiatives is crucial to sustain progress. The college is committed to navigating these challenges and investing in agriculture’s future sustainably, Agblor said.