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Farm leaders oppose wheat import

Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI: Farm leaders from wheat-growing States of Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh arrived in New Delhi on Monday to meet Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and press their demands for higher support price for foodgrains.

Speaking to the media, agriculture leaders Mahendra Singh Tikait, Ajmer Singh Lakhowal and Yudhvir Singh said the Government must withdraw the decision to import five million tonnes of wheat this year as it would hurt their interests. Instead it should buy wheat from them to augment supplies.

"Instead of helping out farmers from Australia, Canada, the U.S. and such countries, the Government should give a better price to us and buy its requirement from us," said Mr. Lakhowal. Besides, there is risk of all kinds of pests, weeds and diseases being present in imported wheat, he said.

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