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Amid tensions along the Indo-Pak border, vegetable traders from Gujarat have suspended exports to Pakistan, citing recent terrorist activities from across the border. The traders reasoned their decision as a reaction to the alleged Pakistan-sponsored terrorist activities and in support of India's military action against the militants.
"For the last five days export of vegetables mainly tomato, ginger, lemon besides others is completely stopped to Pakistan. Gujarat traders supplied daily over 500 tonnes of vegetables through Delhi-Wagah route. This is a matter of nationalism," said Ahmed Patel, General Secretary of Ahmedabad General Commission Agent Association - a local representative body.
According to Patel, besides tomato and chilli, traders from South Gujarat have suspended exports of other vegetables, ginger and lemon to Pakistan.
Indian tomato and vegetables are economically viable for Pakistani consumers as it costs less to transport from Gujarat to Pakistan. Recently, facing climatic fury and crop damage in the domestic market, Pakistan met its demand of tomato and other vegetables through Indian supplies.
"Since 1997, during the time of then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Pakistan started imports of vegetables through Wagah Border. But with Pakistan-supported terror activities increasing, to protect our sovereignty and maintaining our national spirit, traders decided not to supply any vegetable to Pakistan till the normalcy returns," said Patel.
Tomato imports
Pakistan is the biggest importer of Indian tomato with annual imports of over 2 lakh tonnes and Gujarat produces about 9 lakh tonnes, trader sources informed.
On the other hand, India's cotton imports from Pakistan have turned uncertain. India imports roughly around 2-3 lakh bales (each of 170 kg) from Pakistan.
"There is a lot of uncertainty of imports of cotton from Pakistan in the wake of recent cross-border tension. However, India's dependence of Pakistan cotton is very less at about 2-3 lakh bales per annum, which is a small part of the overall imports of about 10-12 lakh bales," said a leading cotton trader from Ahmedabad.
"Currently, there is an optimism of good local crop of cotton. Hence, a drop in import from Pakistan would not hamper much," said the trader, adding that cotton prices will not be affected due to import issues with Pakistan. Cotton prices currently hover in the range of about Rs 42,000 per candy (each of 356 kg).
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