New Delhi, May 23 (KNN) The value-added pepper exporters of Karnataka are hoping that the Centre will soon take a decision on their demand for withdrawal of minimum import price (MIP) of Rs 500 per kg with the Congress-JDS coalition.

The Karnataka’s farmers had argued that the large scale imports were pushing down the prices of pepper due to which they are losing their business.

Even after introduction of MIP in December last year, value added pepper exporters who import cheaper pepper for value addition and then export the commodity, had continued to import the below the MIP by paying fines.

Moreover, with the banning of imports below MIP by the Centre, value added exports have come to stand-still since March.

In this regard, the exporters’ association had approached the Union commerce ministry demanding withdrawal of MIP and as per the request of the ministry the association had taken up the matter through the Spices Board as well.

Over this matter, the chairman of All India Spices Exporters Association, Prakash Namboodiri told the media “We feel that the fractured verdict in Karnataka may be the reason for the delay in taking a decision.”

But now that the Congress-JDS combine is set to form government, exporters are hoping that the Centre will soon take a decision on their demand. 

Raising the concerns, one of the exporters from the region claimed “It has been six months since MIP was levied and we have almost lost hope.”

However, whole pepper exporters alleged that pepper continued to enter India despite MIP and large numbers of quantities of Vietnam pepper are being smuggles to north India from Bangladesh, Nepal and Myanmar by flouting the MIP said an exporter to media.