Kollam: Cashew imports hit processing

KOLLAM: The Federation of Cashew Processors and Exporters (FCPE) has charged the Cashew Exports Promotion Council of India (CE-PCI) with importing substandard cashew kernels which adversely affects the processing in the state. The exporters alleged that cashew import was done in the name of cattle feed and finding loopholes in the foreign trade agreement. They asked the authorities to intervene to curb such illegal practices in the cashew sector.

“The import of cashew kernels in benami names by the members of CEPCI is suicidal. This also affects the jobs of over three lakh women employees. The CEPCI office-bearers had even submitted an application to the prime minister seeking imposition of of 9.36 per cent import duty on raw cashew kernels,” said I. Nisamudeen of FCPE.

The CEPCI membership has been limited to industrialists who export 30,000 kilograms of cashew, avoiding small-scale processors, to avail of special grants allotted by the central government, the federation alleged. The guidelines should be revised to include exporters of a minimum of 10,000 kilograms of cashew, they demanded.

However, Mr R.K. Bhoodes, chairman, CEPCI, told DC, “we welcome any sort of investigation from any agencies. Large-scale import of cashew by misappropriation has been detected by CEPCI, and the issue has been taken up with the customs. Around 60 shipments were confiscated by the customs with the intervention of CEPCI so far. Such fraudulent imports are taken seriously by the CEPCI and messages regarding this are being passed to the DRI,” he said.

The CEPCI had formed a delegation from all the states and taken up the issues. A meeting decided to implement 100 per cent inspection of cashew consignments, check the quality in CEPCI or central government-approved labs and take strict action against repetition of violation of norms, he added.