Sangli – Raisin and grape farmers staged a protest outside the District Collector's office on Wednesday, demanding an immediate halt to the illegal import of low-quality raisins from China. The protesters called for stringent action, including filing sedition charges against traders who are allegedly evading customs duties and causing financial harm to the nation.
In a memorandum submitted to the District Collector, farmers highlighted that substandard Chinese raisins are being smuggled into India via Nepal, bypassing customs duties and import taxes. This large-scale tax evasion is causing significant revenue loss to the Indian government and pushing down market prices, particularly during the peak season, severely affecting domestic raisin producers.
The protestors specifically accused “Pooja Spices and Packaging,” a company based in Kathmandu, Nepal, of illegally supplying Chinese raisins to Indian traders. They demanded that the central government take immediate and strict action against the company.
The march began at the statue of Krantisinh Nana Patil and was led by Datta Patil (President of the farmers’ organization), along with Vice President Maruti Chavan, Tukaram Mali, Sushil Haddare, Pandurang Sankpal, Pradeep Patil, Anil Pawar, Ramesh Jadhav, Sanjay Ghorpade, Mahadev Lad, and Jitendra Jadhav.
Key Demands of the Protestors:
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Seizure of illegally imported Chinese raisins
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Complete halt to unauthorized raisin imports
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Imposition of 100% import duty on all imported raisins
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Inclusion of raisins in school nutrition programs
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Removal of GST on raisins stored in cold storage
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Action against those exploiting grape-growing farmers
The protest underscores growing frustration among domestic raisin producers who are facing both market instability and unfair competition from illegally imported goods.
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