Synopsis
BJP MP Mukesh Dalal of Surat has raised alarms regarding a significant rise in soybean oil imports from Nepal, alleging that China is facilitating this trend. He emphasizes the negative impact on Indian farmers and calls for urgent government intervention to protect local producers against cheap imports.Key Takeaways
- BJP MP Mukesh Dalal highlights rising soybean oil imports from Nepal.
- Alleges that China is behind the surge in soybean oil exports.
- Imports have increased 14-fold, impacting local farmers.
- Dalal calls for government action to protect Indian producers.
- Concerns over the misuse of the Nepal-India Trade Treaty.
Surat, March 17 (NationPress) BJP MP representing the Surat Lok Sabha constituency, Mukesh Dalal, has raised significant concerns regarding a dramatic increase in soybean oil imports from Nepal, claiming that this trend is being facilitated by China.
During a session of Parliament on Sunday, held under Rule 377 as part of the ongoing Budget discussions, Dalal emphasized that China is exporting soybean oil to Nepal, which is subsequently re-exported to India, exploiting the zero-duty access provided under the Nepal-India Trade Treaty of 2009.
The BJP representative disclosed that in the past few months, especially the last four months of 2024, imports of soybean oil from Nepal have skyrocketed by 14 times, whereas the overall import of this commodity in India has only increased by 13 percent.
He voiced his worries that this significant rise is detrimental to Indian oil producers and soybean farmers, who are finding it increasingly difficult to compete against the influx of cheaper imports.
In a media briefing, Dalal noted that Nepal itself is a minimal producer of soybean oil and does not have a strong domestic market for refined soybean oil.
"This is a clear case of China utilizing Nepal as a transit country to inundate the Indian market with inexpensive soybean oil, capitalizing on the duty-free access granted under the trade treaty," he stated.
Dalal called upon the Central government to take urgent measures to address this situation and implement strategies to safeguard the interests of Indian farmers.
"This predicament is inflicting severe losses on Indian soybean farmers and oil producers. I have urged the government to look into this issue and introduce essential safeguards to prevent such exploitation," he added.
The situation has raised alarms within the agricultural sector, as soybean farmers across India have been confronting falling prices and increased competition from imported oils.
Experts contend that the misuse of the trade treaty is not only harming local producers but is also jeopardizing the country's self-sufficiency in producing edible oils.
