Shastri Indo-Canadian Institute

Shastri News - August 2009

Great potential for collaboration in agriculture

Among those who follow the relationship between Canada and India, 2009 may be remembered as the year of the farmer. Agricultural linkages between Canada and India are growing strong with formal relationships being established by both government bodies and private businesses. Trade in this sector continues to increase and both Canada and India are investing in research to improve agricultural practices. There is immense potential for further collaboration between academics in this field of study, especially as the Canadian Faculties of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine (CFAVM) decide collectively to turn their attention to India for the next two years.

CFAVM is an organization comprised of researchers, educators and scientists from 12 of the most distinguished universities across Canada. They currently represent over half of public sector research and development in Canada and almost all of Canada’s undergraduate and graduate education pertaining to agriculture. Many of their members, like the University of Saskatchewan, College of Agriculture and Bioresources, are already actively interacting with institutions in India, and it is CFAVM’s hope that such interactions will increase in 2009.

Farming in Canada can appear quite different from farming in India. “In Canada, a thousand acres supports one farm, but in India it supports 220 farms,” explains Prof. Michael Trevan, Dean of the Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences at the University of Manitoba. Still, he believes that Canadian academics have a lot to learn from India and a lot to contribute, “particularly in the areas of the environmental impact of agriculture and value added agriculture.”

Early in 2009, the governments of India and Canada set the stage for collaboration by signing a formal agreement between Agriculture and Agri-food Canada (AAFC) and the Ministry of Agriculture in India. This agreement creates a framework to expand agricultural trade including Canadian pulse crop exports to India. India is the world’s largest importer of pulses and, as of 2007, Canada was the fourth largest exporter of agricultural goods to India (according to a report released by AAFC at the time of the agreement).

India also has a strong agricultural sector, accounting for 14 per cent of its total exports in 2007. India produces enough food to feed itself, but a large portion (between 25-50 per cent) is lost to disease and natural elements before it reaches consumers. Indian researchers are working to develop improved genetic engineering and preservation technologies, and could benefit from the experience of similar research done in Canada.

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