Changes to India91裸聊视频檚 farm laws could open up the second most populous country to Canadian farmers, although a lot remains unknown about how a liberalized market might affect nations looking to export their produce, experts say.
A freer market in India would help corporations and countries that see it as a destination to sell produce, said Shashi Enarth, an adjunct professor at the University of British Columbia91裸聊视频檚 institute for resources, environment and sustainability.
91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檒l be good for Canada if these three bills are introduced and they sail through,91裸聊视频� he said in a recent interview.
He said the bills stipulate 91裸聊视频渢hat you can sell (agricultural produce) anywhere you want, you can buy whatever you want, and so that way it is good for Canada.91裸聊视频�
India recently introduced three farm bills that constitute a step toward greater liberalization of her agricultural market.
But after two months of protests by farmers, the Supreme Court of India has temporarily put on hold their implementation and ordered the creation of an independent committee of experts to negotiate with opponents of the legislation.
Among other things, the bills would allow farmers to sell their produce outside government-run market committees, and they would remove minimum support prices for certain products.
They also allow farmers to forge agreements with private companies to produce a certain amount, which is then sold directly to the companies.
The protesting farmers say they fear the government would stop buying grain at minimum guaranteed prices under the laws and subject them to corporate exploitation by driving down prices for their products.
The farmers are continuing a blockade of highways connecting New Delhi with the country91裸聊视频檚 north. They have threatened to intensify the protest by organizing a massive tractor rally in New Delhi during Republic Day celebrations on Jan. 26.
Data from Statistics Canada show India was the world91裸聊视频檚 largest market for legumes, with imports valued at $1.4 billion in 2018. Canada was the country91裸聊视频檚 second largest supplier of pulses, such as lentils, dried peas, beans and chickpeas.
Raji Jayaraman, an associate professor at the University of Toronto91裸聊视频檚 Munk school of global affairs and public policy, said Canadian exporters may benefit in the medium to long term, especially if there are further steps toward liberalizing agricultural markets in India.
91裸聊视频淭he farm bills don91裸聊视频檛 directly affect tariffs on agricultural imports to India, so any effect is going to be indirect,91裸聊视频� she said.
How Canadian agricultural exports fare will depend on how the changes affect the prices of agricultural commodities, she added. If Indian agricultural corporations exert their market power, then the new laws might result in lower prices received by farmers and higher prices paid by consumers for agricultural commodities, she said.
91裸聊视频淚ronically, this may help Canadian farmers who are able to sell their products to the Indian market more cheaply.91裸聊视频�
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Greg Northey, Pulse Canada91裸聊视频檚 vice-president of corporate affairs, said the organization is watching the developments in India closely and considering how they might affect farmers here.
91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 an important market for sure, one that we care about and one that we91裸聊视频檝e had a long-standing relationship with, and one we want to continue to export to,91裸聊视频� said Northey, whose organization represents growers, traders and processors.
Most pulses in Canada are grown in Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba, with bean production concentrated in southern Ontario and Quebec, its website says.
The organization is analyzing how the new laws in India would impact Canadian farmers, he said. But they don91裸聊视频檛 have a good understanding yet and haven91裸聊视频檛 come across an analysis of how changes in India91裸聊视频檚 laws will affect imports and exports, Northey said.
Jayaraman said a lot of people are fearful about the liberalization of agricultural markets in India because it is a large employer. The majority of farmers in India own less than one hectare of farmland and operate on a subsistence basis.
91裸聊视频淎nd so, anything that touches and reforms agricultural markets is going to have ramifications for subsistence livelihood for hundreds of millions of people,91裸聊视频� she added.
Jayaraman also cautioned that the future of the Indian farm market is still unknown under the proposed laws.
91裸聊视频淚 mean people are still scratching their heads trying to figure out what the ramifications of these reforms are,91裸聊视频� she said.
91裸聊视频淚91裸聊视频檓 going to say the jury is out. It91裸聊视频檚 really going to depend on how the market evolves as a result of these reforms.91裸聊视频�
91裸聊视频� With files from The Associated Press
Hina Alam, The Canadian Press
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