Lentil production in Canada likely to be lower than Stats Can's estimate
10-Sep-2024 01:28 PM
Saskatoon. Although the government agency - Stats Can has estimated the total production of lentils in Canada to jump from 16.70 lakh tonnes in the 2023-24 season to 25 lakh tonnes in the current season of 2024-25,
a leading market analyst believes that the actual production will be 1.00-1.50 lakh tonnes less than this and this entire decline will be in the production of red lentils. The production of green lentils will be more or less in line with the estimate of Stats Can.
According to the analyst, during the current marketing season of 2024-25, the market of both varieties of lentils can go in different directions.
Under this, the price of green lentils is likely to remain high and fast, while there may be a soft environment in the market of red lentils.
In fact, this time the global supply of red lentils is likely to be the highest in the last five years. On the other hand, the availability of green lentils will remain at normal levels.
According to analysts, this time Canada can produce 15-16 lakh tons of red lentils with an average yield rate of 20-25 bushels per acre.
The agriculture department of the most prominent producing province- Saskatchewan has estimated the average yield rate in the state to be 1317 pounds per acre which is equivalent to about 22 bushels per acre.
Turkey and India are the two major buyers of Canadian red lentils. This time Turkey will depend on lentil exports from Russia and Kazakhstan till December-January and after that will be active in the Canadian market.
Russia and Kazakhstan are estimated to produce 3-4 lakh tons of red lentils and 1.00-1.50 lakh tons of green lentils.
As far as India is concerned, there is a huge stock of about 7-8 lakh tons of red lentils in government warehouses, while traders and stockists also have a stock of 2.00-2.50 lakh tons.
India consumes about 22 lakh tons of lentils annually, so the current available stock is sufficient to meet the needs of about six months.
In Australia, the government has estimated the production of lentils to be 17 lakh tons, while the industry and trade sector has expressed the possibility of production of about 15 lakh tons.