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Chauhan writes to PM on soya producers

Bhopal: The Centre’s decision to relax import of high variety edible oil and corn eatables has threatened the survival of soya producers, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said on Wednesday.

In a letter to the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Mr. Chauhan sought to draw the Centre’s attention on the impact of the decision on the farmers while urging him to “take necessary corrective measures immediately,” official sources said.

Terming the lifting of ban on importing processed products prepared from genetically modified (GM) seeds by Environment Ministry as ‘dangerous’, Mr. Chauhan said it would affect soya producers in Madhya Pradesh, which is known as ‘soya state’ of the country. He also warned that Centre’s move will have wide-ranging affects on the soya industry and economy of the State.

Citing the advantage enjoyed by the imported products, he said in countries like US, agriculture was highly subsidised so the cost of final product was less than the one available in domestic market. “This will create problems for our farmers and industry as people will buy only the cheaper products. The experts have doubted that these may not be good for health,” Mr. Chauhan said. -- PTI

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