Overview

• On July 11, Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar wrote to Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal demanding an immediate halt to substandard raisin imports from China
• He warned that duty-evading Chinese raisins have driven domestic prices down by ₹100–₹125 per kilogram and caused revenue losses for both farmers and the exchequer
• Pawar urged the central government to bolster inspection protocols at ports and airports to enforce import duties and ensure quality compliance
• The letter also requested steps to stabilise raisin prices during the peak season to protect growers from further financial distress
• His appeal follows representations from the Maharashtra State Grape Growers’ Association in Pune about a surge in smuggled low-quality Chinese raisins