Biratnagar, March 16:

Export of Nepali-produced vegetable ghee to India has been stopped for the past few days. According to an agreement reached between Nepal and India, the last date of export of vegetable ghee to India was March 5.

There is a rule to renew the accord every year, but it is yet to be renewed this year, said concerned people. “Efforts are on to renew it. Perhaps, it will be renewed and export will begin by March 20”, said Ashok Muraraka, president of Morang Industrial Union.

As export of vegetable ghee to India has been stopped, it is being consumed within the nation, said businessmen. Pradip Muraraka, owner of Shreeram Refines urged for an increase in the export quota this year. According to him, State Trading Corporation (STC) of India alone purchases 100,000 metric tonnes of vegetable ghee per year, produced in 16 small and big industries in Nepal.

According to recent statistics, vegetable ghee worth more than Rs 4,000 million Indian Currency (IC) was exported to India last year. Ne-pali-produced vegetable gh-ee is being exported mainly to Harayana, Assam, Gujarat, Jharkhand, Bihar, J&K, Chhattisgarh and Delhi.

Altogether the 16 vegetable ghee industries of Nepal can produce 300,000 metric tonnes of ghee every year. Currently, only 75,000 metric tonnes is being consumed within Nepal, while the Indian government purchases 100,000 metric tonnes. So the sector is failing to produce according to its full capacity, said the Union. On the other hand, there is a compulsion to import raw materials from Malaysia and Indonesia.

In the eastern region of Nepal, Shreeram Refines, Swastic Oil, Pashupati Food and Oil Udyog, Bara Vegetable, Arun Vanaspati, Sam-yam Vegetable and Narayani Vegetables are still running.