Sales of lentils from Ottawa to New Delhi have decreased as a result of the diplomatic tension between India and Canada. Lentils are India’s primary import from Canada.
However, India’s decreased purchases might result in lower harvest prices paid to Canadian farmers. A Reuters story claims that such a move might potentially raise the cost of food in India.
A senior government official, though, told Reuters that New Delhi had not urged importers to stop making orders.
A representative of the Canadian Department of Global Affairs also stated that Canada is not making any decisions that would directly impact trade with India.
However, a Canadian exporter informed the agency that although Indian clients have grown wary, overall demand for lentils is still very robust.
India and Canada’s Lentil Diplomacy:
According to data from India’s trade ministry, Canada accounted for more than half of India’s total lentil imports in FY 2022–2023 with shipments of 485,492 metric tons valued at $370 million.
According to ministry data, the trend has persisted as India’s imports of Canadian lentils increased by 420% from April to July compared to the same period last year to 190,784 tons.
According to Bimal Kothari, chairman of the India Pulses and Grains Association, the country of India consumes about 2.4 million metric tons of lentils each year but only produces 1.6 million tons.
According to a Mumbai-based merchant, Indian consumers are increasingly seeking out lentils from Australia and delaying orders from Canada.
Following Canadian Prime Minister Trudeau’s accusations that the Indian government was involved in the murder of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, ties between India and China have risen.
The charges have been categorically denied by India, who has referred to them as “absurd” and “motivated.”
Notably, Canada has not yet made any public proof of the accusation that Nijjar was murdered available.
Meanwhile, Indian diplomats and missions in Canada have been the target of threats, acts of violence, and intimidation, according to External Affairs Minister Jaishankar. He has questioned if the response would have been the same in any other nation under the same circumstances.
He went on to say that it is important to avoid normalizing the situation in Ottawa.
