Imported apples in Southern states to cost more
C Shivakumar
Chennai:
Imported apples in Tamil Nadu will cost more following
the notification by director general of foreign trade (DGFT) to ban import of
apples from Chennai Port.
A Chennai Port official told Express that the move would
affect the revenue of Chennai Port as well as large network of wholesale and
retail sales involving the fruit business.
Interestingly, Chennai Port imports 5,000 cartons of
apple every year and it is the second largest port when compared to the volumes
of containers.
“We will be taking up the issue through Shipping Ministry
with Union Commerce Ministry,” said the official.
Sources said the Union Commerce Ministry took the
decision to protect the domestic apple trade. However, port sources said that
the domestic apple trade is seasonal while the import of apples through Chennai
Port happens regularly. “There is no reason why Commerce Ministry resorted to
such a decision,” said the official.
Interestingly, the notification of DGFT to import apples into
India only through Nhava Sheva Port has also irked apple importers in Chennai
Port.
Chozha Naachiar Rajasekar, president of Tamil Chamber of
Commerce has urged Commerce Minister Nirmala Seetharaman to allow Chennai Port
for import of apples through fresh DGFT notification or else it will involve
huge freight amount in transporting the containers to southern states.
“The apples are imported in refrigerated containers from countries
like US, Australia and Fuji Island. If the consignments are to be imported only
at NhavaSheva, then the goods should be transported in refrigerated container
or trucks to Chennai and other places involving huge freight amount pushing the
price of apples and adding to food inflation, which is avoidable,” said
Rajasekhar.
He said that apples are not grown in Tamil Nadu and it
has to be procured from states like Himachal Pradesh and even there sufficient
quantity is not available.
“There appears to be no public interest in sudden
restriction of port of import and the move may result in cartelisation of the
trade to the detriment of consumers and to prevent monopoly of particular port
in the West coast of the country,” he stated.
He said the large network of wholesale and retail sales involving
businesses and trade activities connected with fruit business will be affected
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