Traders Urge Quarantine Centre Setup, Lift Livestock Trade Ban

Local traders in Kinnaur, India, are pressing for the establishment of a quarantine facility and the lifting of a ban on livestock trading, which has been in place since 2012. This plea follows an agreement between India and China to reopen trade through the strategic Shipki La Pass, a vital corridor near the Line of Actual Control (LAC) that has historically facilitated commerce between India and Tibet.

The Kinnaur Indo-China Trade Association has reached out to the district administration, emphasizing the urgent need to expedite the creation of a quarantine laboratory at the trade centre in Chupan (Namgiya). The absence of such facilities has been a significant barrier to livestock trading, which ceased in 2019. The association’s president, Hishey Negi, stated, “Livestock used to be the major trade, and the biggest hitch is the absence of a quarantine station.”

Trade in livestock, particularly high-quality raw wool from cashmere goats and yak tails, was once a prominent aspect of the annual cross-border trade, conducted on a barter basis from June to November. According to traders, the ban has adversely affected the business of Chamurthi horses and Chigu goats, which are highly sought after in Kinnaur and surrounding mountainous regions. Suraj Parkash, a trader from Namgiya, highlighted the demand for these animals and reiterated the necessity for a quarantine centre to facilitate trade resumption.

The current import list includes 20 items, such as wool, pashmina, and herbal medicines, while the export list consists of 36 items, including food products and handicrafts. Many villagers from Namgiya, Chuppan, Nako, and Chango are economically reliant on the cross-border trade. The prolonged suspension of trade has left some traders awaiting payment for dues spanning five years, compounding their financial difficulties.

Amit Sharma, the Kinnaur deputy commissioner, confirmed that trade typically occurs through Shipki La from June 1 to November 30 each year. He noted informal consultations with traders to assess their needs as discussions about reopening the pass progress. “The traders primarily want us to hold workshops and speed up the setting up of the quarantine facility,” he said.

The trade between India and China had initially ceased following the 1962 war but resumed in 1992 after the two countries signed a protocol. Since then, trade volume increased significantly, rising from ₹ 8.59 crore in 2016 to ₹ 59.21 crore in 2017. The last recorded trade before the suspension in 2019 amounted to ₹ 3.05 crore.

Traders are also advocating for skill-building workshops to enhance the viability of their businesses. Some items on the import list, such as borax and china clay, are unfamiliar to them in terms of usage and market potential. Hishey Negi has called for a revision of the outdated trade item lists, unchanged since 2012, and the revival of the expired Import Export Code, which has lapsed due to the lack of trade since 2019.

The recent talks between India and China have rekindled hopes among residents of border villages that trade will resume this year. Negi expressed a desire for approximately 150 trade passes for local traders, emphasizing the importance of swift action from the Kinnaur district administration. The administration has been urged to engage with the Union Ministry of External Affairs to facilitate these changes.

As the situation evolves, the establishment of a quarantine facility appears crucial for revitalizing the livestock trade and supporting the local economy, which relies heavily on cross-border commerce through Shipki La.