Surat: Surat Lok Sabha MP Mukesh Dalal has raised concerns over the sharp increase in soybean oil imports from China in the garb of Nepal. Drawing the government’s attention to the issue, he  raised this issue in the Lok Sabha  under Rule 377 of during the ongoing budget session of Parliament and pointed out that China has been exporting soybeans to Nepal, which are then sent to India. The MP urged immediate intervention to safeguard the interests of Indian oil producers and soybean farmers.

The Surat MP told media persons – “In the last few months, particularly in the last four months of the previous year, there has been a significant rise in soybean oil imports into the country. The import of soybean oil from Nepal has surged 14-fold, while overall soybean oil imports in the country have increased by only 13%.”

Dalal also pointed out that Kathmandu remains a marginal producer of the commodity, as it does not consume refined soybean oil. He stated, “Soybean oil is exported from China to Nepal, and Nepali businessmen, taking advantage of zero-duty access under the Nepal-India Treaty of Trade signed in 2009, are re-exporting it to India. As a result, Indian soybean-producing farmers are suffering losses.”

“I have urged the government and Parliament to take note of the matter and called for measures to protect the interests of the country’s farmers,” he added. DeshGujarat