New Delhi | Reuters — India is to allow farmers to sell produce directly to bulk buyers such as trading companies, food processors and large retailers, the farm minister said on Wednesday. This would obviate the need for farmers to bring their produce to India’s more than 7,000 regulated wholesale markets and let buyers buy […] Read more
India to let farmers sell produce directly to traders, retailers
Current system seen reducing farmer bargaining power
India reduces tariffs on lentils
Reduction set for all lentil imports except from U.S.
MarketsFarm — India is temporarily reducing import tariffs on lentils originating from most countries. The India government’s Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs on Tuesday posted “Notice 26/2020-Customs,” which lowers import taxes on most lentils entering the country, from 30 per cent to 10 per cent. The reduction, which takes immediate effect, runs until […] Read more
Pulse weekly outlook: Chickpeas recover from previous lows
MarketsFarm — Chickpea prices have recovered slightly from lows hit around the end of 2019, but they’re still a long way off historic highs from years past. Ahead of the 2018 growing season, chickpea prices were around 50 to 60 cents/lb. for growers, according to Darwin Hamilton of Kalshea Commodities in Winnipeg. Currently, large chickpea […] Read more
Pulse weekly outlook: Lentil exports up on year
MarketsFarm — Canadian lentil exports are running well ahead of the year-ago level, according to the latest numbers. Canada exported 267,462 tonnes of lentils in March, the second-highest monthly total of the crop year to date and well above the 130,980 tonnes exported during the same month the previous year. The United Arab Emirates was […] Read more
Logistics, lack of containers hamper pulse crop movement
MarketsFarm — Logistics disruptions due to COVID-19 are hampering nearby movement of pulses, according to a number of industry participants speaking Thursday on a webinar organized by the Global Pulse Consortium. However, the longer-term impact of the pandemic remains to be seen. “The shipping industry has been hugely impacted by COVID-19,” Chris Oliver, nautical director […] Read more
Pulse weekly outlook: Lack of willing sellers underpins prices
MarketsFarm — Pea and lentil bids in Western Canada are holding relatively steady for the time being, despite anecdotal reports of increased international demand due to the COVID-19 pandemic, with attention soon shifting to spring seeding. A lack of willing sellers is keeping pulse bids underpinned in Western Canada, according to broker Dale McManus of […] Read more
Unseasonal rain, hail damage winter crops in India
Crop quality issues may pressure prices
New Delhi | Reuters — Unseasonal torrential rains and hailstorms have damaged the winter-planted crops of millions of Indian growers, inundating wheat, potato, chickpea and rapeseed farms in large parts of the fertile northern plains, farmers said. Most farmers were caught by surprise by the repeated rain and hail that has lashed fields full of […] Read more
Where are the pulses? India has own take on fast food
Alberta producer sees opportunities in the changing marketplace of India and other pulse-buying countries
Reading Time: 4 minutes Enchant seed grower Greg Stamp was expecting the unusual when he travelled to India last month. That proved to be the case, but not always in ways he expected. For example, he learned the fast-food market in India grew by 18 per cent last year. “That was a huge number. I was surprised,” said Stamp, […] Read more
Pulse weekly outlook: Conditions optimal for India’s winter crops
MarketsFarm — Cold weather in key growing regions of India could indicate high production levels for winter pulse crops. Heavy showers and colder temperatures in Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh created “ideal conditions” for winter-sown pulses, according to India’s agriculture commissioner SK Malhotra. Malhotra explained that the output of the winter-grown pulse crops will likely […] Read more
Chickpea market steady, waits for next wave of demand
MarketsFarm — Demand for chickpeas often comes in waves, with the market currently in a lull waiting for the next swell. The last demand cycle came in early January, and the market has lacked “any kind of enthusiasm” over the past month, according to Colin Young of Midwest Grain at Moose Jaw. Within every pricing […] Read more