Saskatchewan’s exports could easily double if weather issues reduce the Indian crop of 18 million tonnes drops by 10 percent.
“That’s how important the relationship is, said Guru Rao of Edelweiss Commodity Services Ltd.
He was part of a delegation from India’s pulse industry that was in Sask-atchewan last week to check growing conditions and meet exporters.
Pravin Dongre, chair of the India Pulses and Grains Association and chief executive officer of the Indian arm of Glencore-Viterra, said Sask-atchewan supplies 80 percent of India’s pulse requirements.
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“We are working very closely with Saskatchewan Pulse Growers and Pulse Canada, and we have the support of premier Brad Wall,” he told reporters in Regina after meeting with the premier and being introduced in the Legislative Assembly.
Rao said the relationship is critical. He said he wanted to hear “from the horse’s mouth” just what is planned for the 2015 crop.
“We are here to establish contact with more exporters, understand what is happening with the new crop,” he said.
Edelweiss holds 10 percent of the market share of Indian pulse imports at 375,000 tonnes. Of that, 250,000 tonnes comes from Saskatchewan. .
Dongre said Saskatchewan farmers are growing pulses “suitable to the Indian palate and suitable to the Indian wallet.”
About 75 percent of Indians are vegetarian, and lentils and yellow peas are particularly important for their curries and soups, he said.
“It’s a huge potential. You’re looking at 1.3 billion people. You’re looking at a growing economy. You’re looking at people eating more nutritional food,” he said. “You’re looking at a market which will exponentially explode in the near future.”
Rao said meetings with exporters have gone well.
“They’re all bullish,” he said.
“They’re going to make lots of money from us.”
