Saskatoon, SK - The Saskatchewan Pulse Growers (SPG) have a goal of reaching seven million tonnes of pulse exports by 2025 and think that South Asia is a primary market.
SPG recently participated in a multi-sector trade mission to South Asia, organized by Saskatchewan Trade and Export Partnership (STEP), which included pulse seminars in four Indian cities, two Bangladesh cities, and one Sri Lankan city. The mission had over 30 participants from the Saskatchewan pulse industry, and over 50 participants from multi-sector industries in Saskatchewan from various companies, post-secondary education institutions, business associations and the Saskatchewan government.
Premier Brad Wall and Alana Koch, Deputy Minister of Agriculture for Saskatchewan both participated in the mission. "Having both Premier Wall and the Deputy Minister of Agriculture participate on this mission elevated pulses to a high level in cultures that place importance on personal relations and status," says Garth Patterson, Executive Director of SPG and trade mission participant. "Pulses were the Premier's top message, which increased the credibility of our industry with the Premier's strong support."
The mission's focus was to increase demand for Saskatchewan grown pulses and strengthen trade relationships. "South Asia is already our top customer for Saskatchewan pulses with 58 per cent of pea and lentil exports going to these countries. They are experiencing strong economic growth and have the potential to consume another five million tonnes of pulses," says Murray Purcell, SPG Chair and mission participant.
As a part of the mission, SPG announced the results from the SPG funded Tamil Nadu Agricultural University research project, which found that Saskatchewan grown green lentils can be used in traditional Indian cuisine, and would be accepted by Indian consumers. SPG also participated in two Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signings while on the mission. One was an MOU between the University of Saskatchewan and the University of Dhaka in Bangladesh to focus on biofortification research to look at the nutritional impact lentils could have on consumers in specific markets where nutrition deficiency is a concern. The second MOU was an agreement signed between SPG and the Indian Institute of Crop Processing Technologies to expand the use of Saskatchewan grown yellow pea and green lentil in more Indian cuisines and food products to leverage the nutritional and functional advantages of Saskatchewan pulses.
Mr. Gino Castonguay of the Canadian Grain Commission (CGC) accompanied SPG on the mission to provide information on the grading system at the CGC, and to address questions relating to crop quality from 2010. "Gino's participation on this mission was a huge asset to the pulse importers who had numerous questions on how grading at the CGC works and how importers can obtain official CGC grade certificates," says Purcell.