Canada Lifting World Pea Output

VANCOUVER - Feb 26/08 - SNS -- World field pea production levels will likely rise at least 4% to 10.06 million metric tons (MT) in 2008-09 mainly on account of increased production in Canada, says Stan Skrypetz, Pulses and Special Crops Analyst with Agriculture Canada's Market Analysis Division in Winnipeg.

That changes in Canadian production would profoundly affect world output reflects its status as the world's largest producer and exporter of dry peas in the world, normally accounting for a quarter of world production and half of all exports.

Skrypetz notes Canadian seeded area for dry peas increased by 642% since 1991-1992; providing "producers with an alternative cash crop to use in their rotations and livestock feeders with an additional feed ingredient. In addition, the increased production has resulted in increased employment opportunities in western Canada through the expansion of handling, marketing and processing facilities. For 2008-2009, Canadian production is forecast to increase moderately from 2007-2008 due to higher seeded area and higher yields, resulting in higher exports which were limited by supply in 2007-2008."

Interestingly, world dry pea production has been trending downwards during the past ten years. During this period, the concentration of production has shifted out of France and other European countries into Canada and the United States (US). World trade in dry peas has been variable during the past ten years, ranging from a low of 2.3 million MT in calendar year 2003 to a high of 4.2 million MT in 2006, but with an upward trend. The upward trend was due mainly to increasing exports from Canada and to a lesser extent the US.

Subscribers can read the full text of the article by Clicking here