India is developing a digital agri-stack as an important provider for online marketplaces and smart agriculture. The government is committed to turning the agricultural sector into an investment opportunity.

In his inaugural address at the two-day India-Canada Agri-Tech Virtual Seminar organised by the Indo-Canadian Business Chamber (ICBC) in collaboration with the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and the Ministry of External Affairs of India, Tomar said that India, in particular, during the last six months of the global pandemic crisis has made considerable progressive reforms in the agricultural sector.

These include policy reforms for the establishment of One Nation-One market, contract farming along with appropriate measures for the safety and freedom of farmers. India has over 450 start-ups in the agri-tech sector, which means that every ninth start-up in the world is Indian. Public-private partnerships are increasing due to investment in line with this sector.

Indicating the rapid growth in agri-trade between India and Canada, the minister said that India is the fifth-largest importer of Canadian vegetables and raw agricultural materials and the seventh-largest importer of leguminous vegetables, called ‘Vegetarian Protein'. He said that there is great potential for growth in the Indo-Canadian agri-business. India is an excellent place for the production of healthy food including nutritious grains, organics, herbals and so on, which are the foundation of Ayurveda's rich traditions and methods of yoga treatment.

The minister said that after signing of the MoU in 2009, he would like to see Indo-Canadian cooperation accelerate forward in leveraging its natural capabilities in the agricultural sector.

At the event, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food of the Government of Canada Mary-Claude Bibeau highlighted the fact that Canada and India have a proud history of strong bilateral trade and collaboration in agriculture, with a vibrant trading relationship in agriculture and agri-food, valued at over $1.5 billion.

She went on to point out that in India, rapid economic growth is driving new consumer demands and preferences, and Canada can help India meet those demands through scientific and technological expertise in food processing, food safety and transportation infrastructure. Bibeau concluded by reiterating that as we look to the future, expanding and diversifying mutual trade and investment opportunities between Canada and India, will also help both economies recover after the pandemic.