Sask. Agriculture Minister Lyle Stewart to visit India to push pulse crop exports

Minister of Agriculture Lyle Stewart is heading to India.

Stewart's trip will focus on boosting the province's exports of pulse crops.

"Saskatchewan is Canada's top exporter to India and it is important for us to strengthen this relationship and find new opportunities with one of the world's fastest-growing economies," Stewart said in a release.

The week-long trip will see Stewart and his delegation visit Delhi, Jaipur and Mumbai. 

According to the release, Saskatchewan exports to India last year totaled more than $1.8 billion. The top exports were lentils, peas and potash.

Exports to India broke the $1 billion mark for the first time last year. Most of the exports were from the agriculture sector.

Representatives from Saskatchewan Pulse Growers, Saskatchewan Trade and Export Partnership and Saskatchewan Canola Development Commission will also be travelling with the delegation.

Among the activities the group will do are participating in the Global Pulses Conclave, roundtables with importers and meetings with government representatives and business leaders.

"This mission will help solidify our trade relationship for established products including pulse crops and potash, while also allowing us to have conversations about future imports such as canola, flax and oats," Stewart said.

"Face-to-face meetings help Saskatchewan better understand India's needs, identify new areas for collaboration and trade and discuss any barriers." 

According to the release, only about five per cent of what Saskatchewan produces is consumed locally.

As for pulse crops, Saskatchewan accounted for 95 per cent of Canadian pea exports to India and 100 per cent of Canadian lentil exports to India in 2015.

The group will leave India on Feb. 20.