Kota : These days, there is a lot of discussion about Chinese Garlic in many states of the country including Rajasthan. In Rajasthan, this week, the auction of garlic was stopped in the big farmer mandis of Baran and Hadoti and protest was shown. Apart from Rajasthan, there is resentment among traders and farmers in Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat as well. In Madhya Pradesh, the sale of garlic was stopped in the big farmer mandis of Indore, Neemuch, Mandsaur, Shajapur and protest was shown. Garlic is produced the most in these states. Therefore, there is more resentment about the banned garlic of China reaching the market. In the last one month, about 16 tonnes of Chinese garlic has been seized on the Indo-Nepal border in Uttar Pradesh.
Actually, garlic production has decreased this year. Due to this, the prices of garlic have suddenly increased and one kilogram of garlic is being sold for 400 to 500 rupees. In this environment, Chinese garlic has started being sold in the markets of the country. Due to their being cheap, there can be chaos in the market and farmers can suffer losses. But the biggest thing is that Chinese garlic was banned in India 10 years ago. But even after the ban, the anger of the farmers is increasing due to the arrival of Chinese garlic in the markets.
Why is Chinese garlic banned?
The Indian government had banned the export of garlic from China in 2014. There were two main reasons for this. The first reason was the concerns raised about the quality of garlic grown in China. Pesticides and chemicals are used heavily in the cultivation of Chinese garlic. These can pose a threat to people’s health. In comparison to these, Indian garlic is safer because pesticides and chemical fertilizers are used very limitedly in them. The second major reason for the ban was that Chinese garlic is cheaper than Indian products. The arrival of cheap garlic in the market can harm Indian farmers. Keeping in mind the interests of the farmers, the Indian government had banned it.
How is Chinese garlic reaching despite the ban
Despite the ban imposed by the Indian government, Chinese garlic is being smuggled. Chinese garlic is coming to India via Bangladesh and Nepal and reaching markets across the country. Farmers are angry at the illegal sale of Chinese garlic in Indian markets. Rajasthan farmer leader Rampal Jat says, “There is a difference of night and day between the quality of Chinese and Indian garlic. The Indian government imposed a ban, but later it was relaxed. As a result, Chinese garlic has reached from our Baran to Gujarat and Maharashtra. And farmers, already troubled by low yield, are now saying that a new problem has come before them.”
What does Chinese garlic look like
China is the largest producer of garlic. Garlic grown in China is exported all over the world. Chinese garlic looks different from Indian garlic. It is light white and pink and is smaller. It smells less than Indian garlic. Indian garlic smells stronger and also emits a stink. But Chinese garlic is cheaper and after smuggling it, there is more profit in selling it in the market. Suresh Aggarwal of Federation of Rajasthan Trade and Industries (FORTI) says, “China tries to capture the market by sending its cheap goods. Due to the cheap product, local farmers and producers stop making or growing that product, due to which Chinese producers get a monopoly. The government should pay attention to how Chinese garlic is reaching the Indian markets even after the ban it had imposed.”
