Agricultural machinery makers seek opportunities Chinese visitors were looking to gather information on canola production and seed
Canadians have long been aware of China’s importance as an agricultural customer, but last week five manufacturers from that country brought their wares to Canada’s Farm Progress Show in Regina for the first time.
The equipment included an orchard sprayer and is small by Canadian standards, said Wang Feng from Jiangsu province’s bureau of agricultural machinery, who co-ordinated the Saskatchewan project.
“We are interested in canola production, and the large scale, high horsepower machinery that you use in production here in Canada, especially harvesting and air seeders,” Wang said, speaking through a translator.
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Farm size in Jiangsu is still typically only a few acres, but Wang said consolidation of both state and co-operative farms is creating new opportunities for larger machinery in the country, particularly in northern China.
The delegation from China included government officials and buyers. The group talked to Canadian agronomy and genetics companies about potential canola seed and production technologies.
“We want to produce canola with small stems, more like the kind Canadian farmers grow,” Wang said.
He said his province has more than 3,000 farm equipment companies, which make tractors, field tools and parts for North American, Australian and European manufacturers.
Jiangsu has 24 million acres in agricultural production, which is a little more than half that of Saskatchewan.
Last year Saskatchewan nearly doubled its exports of canola and canola oil to China, said show manager Rob O’Connor, making China Canada’s second largest trading partner.
The Chinese Council for the Promotion of International Trade was involved in hosting the display in Regina.
The council and the Saskatchewan Trade and Export Partnership have signed a memorandum of understanding to promote trade of technology and equipment between the two provinces.
Youming Zhao, president of the Canada-China Agriculture and Food Development Exchange Centre, said there are tremendous investment opportunities for people in both countries to invest in the other.
“Canadian goods have a high brand image,” the agrologist said through his son, Paul, during a seminar at the show.
However, there are cultural, language and regulatory barriers that have to be broken down. Building strong partnerships is key.
The centre has engaged two real estate agents in Saskatoon and Calgary to act as farm start managers for Chinese Canadians who want to farm.
It also organizes agri-tours to China to help connect buyers and sellers.
“We want to export your product to China,” he said.
