The Central Arecanut and Cocoa Marketing and Processing Cooperative (Campco) Ltd has requested the External Affairs Ministry to impose restrictions on the transportation of arecanut and pepper at the Integrated Check Post (ICP) in Moreh, Manipur, which is located on the India-Myanmar border.
The President of Campco, A Kishore Kumar Kodgi, wrote to External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, claiming that the import of arecanut has harmed the domestic market, causing farmers significant distress.
The commodity, which attracts a 108 percent import duty on a minimum import tariff value of 251 a kg, is smuggled into India with impunity and enters India through Silchar in Assam and Falakanta in West Bengal, from where it is sent by rail and road to major markets such as Nagpur, Kanpur, and others, he said, adding that the imported arecanut is sold in the range of 250-260 a kg in the Indian market.
‘India self-sufficient’
"Though we appreciate the government's initiative to resume trade at the borders, it is a humble request submitted on behalf of the arecanut and pepper farmers to restrict the trade of at least arecanut and pepper commodities and permit other commodities to move through the said gates," he said, referring to the recent notification of the External Affairs Ministry to open border gates no. 1 and 2 for trade at ICP, Moreh (Manipur) at the India-Myanmar border.
He said that India is self-sufficient in arecanut production. The production of pepper in India serves the needs of the Indian market. The need for arecanut and pepper imports does not arise in this situation.
"Hence, in light of these observations, and in the best interests of our country's areca and pepper farmers," Kodgi wrote in the letter.
"We respectfully request your good offices to restrict the movement of arecanut and pepper through the Manipur gates at the India-Myanmar border, and accordingly direct the authorities concerned to prevent these commodities from entering the domestic market."
