MarketsFarm — The decision by India’s government to continue with a suspension of import tariffs on lentils has been met with a sigh of relief from Pulse Canada.
On Feb. 12, India removed an 11 per cent tariff on Canadian lentils, just seven months after reducing the same tariff from 33 per cent. On July 23, the Indian government announced that the suspension, which was set to expire on Sept. 30, was extended to March 31, 2023. Many observers believe this was done to counter rising food prices.
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“It’s certainly welcome news. India’s an important market for Canadian lentils and certainly, as a big exporter of lentils, we have a vested interest in seeing markets like in India and around the world recognize the quality and consistency of our product,” Pulse Canada’s vice-president, marketing and communications, Jeff English said.
Canada exported $510.4 million worth of lentils to India in 2021, which accounted for 77 per cent of India’s lentil imports, according to Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC).
The federal government has also since resumed negotiations with India on a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) and according to English, Canada’s pulse industry was a main topic in talks.
“We were encouraged to see the priorities of the Canadian pulse industry featured prominently in trade talks and we’ve been engaging with and found a willing partner in (the federal) government in trying to see that deal through to fruition,” English said.
Canada’s lentil crop this year looks closer to “normal” than that of 2021, which was devastated by drought, he noted. AAFC estimated last month that Canada will produce 2.46 million tonnes, more than 50 per cent more than in 2021-22.
“One focus for pulse growers is getting the crop in the bin. It’s not quite there yet but harvest is quickly approaching,” he said.
Another focus, he said, is “access to timely and needed rail service. In a year where we still have quite poor rail performance in terms of getting our product to port and off to export markets, what we’re focused on as we head into harvest… is to make sure that our railways know what’s coming because we’re expecting a larger crop than last year.”
— Adam Peleshaty reports for MarketsFarm from Stonewall, Man.
