March 14: Consumer-based organisations have urged the government to limit exports of processed food items from the country after facing problems in importing raw materials required for the food industry in the wake of Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Nepal had been importing a considerable amount of food items including mustard seeds, soybean and sunflower oil, wheat, corn and other food items from Ukraine. But the orders for all goods have been canceled since the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Consumer-based organizations have demanded that the government should immediately coordinate with the industrialists and traders to ensure smooth supply of goods by changing the tax rates and to control inflation and price hike.

Chairman of the Public Forum, Uttam Dhungel said that crucial steps should be taken to increase the stock of such items and halt the exports to create an environment where the general consumers can easily buy food and other consumer goods at affordable prices.

 “The prices of edible oil have skyrocketed since Russia's invasion of Ukraine, and the full effects are expected to surface only two months later,” Dhungel said. Dhungel suggested a curb on exports in order to remove the shortage of oil in Nepal due to the Ukraine-Russia conflict.

Krishna Prasad Bhandari, the central chairman of Consumer Awareness Campaign, Nepal, said that the irresponsibility of the government has encouraged unethical approach of industrialists and businessmen in price hike of goods taking advantage of the current situation. He said that the devaluation of Nepali currency against the dollar and increase in the price of petroleum products have affected all sides but the general consumers have been affected more due to the government's silence in controlling the inflation.

According to Ram Chandra Dhungana, spokesperson of the Biratnagar Customs Office, refined oils worth Rs 12.34 billion prepared from palm, soybean and sunflower have been exported from July to March. In the corresponding period of last fiscal year, refined edible oil worth Rs 6.43 billion was exported. Biratnagar Customs Chief Tara Prasad Sapkota said that he has not received any information from any state body about halting the export of oil. He also informed that refined oil is being exported under normal conditions at present.

According to the records kept by Morang Merchants’ Association and Morang Industries Association, refined oil worth Rs 12.36 billion has been exported from Jogbani customs point in the current fiscal year. Exports from Nepal have increased since last year due to the increased demand for refined oil in India. According to the concerned industrialists, their target is to extract refined oil worth Rs 20 billion by the end of the current fiscal year.