The Hindu : Front Page : VS seeks Central steps to protect coconut farmers

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Nov 13, 2007
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VS seeks Central steps to protect coconut farmers

Special Correspondent

Thiruvananthapuram: Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan has urged Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to take steps to protect the coconut farmers who are facing a crisis because of the import of palm oil.

In a letter he sent to the Prime Minister on Monday, the Chief Minister suggested hike in the import duty of palm oil and legal steps to solve the problem. He pointed out that the coconut growers were already suffering from crash in prices. The import of palm oil at such a time through the ports of Kerala would worsen their condition. He wanted the Centre to appeal against the High Court order which permitted the import.

In another letter, he brought the issue to the attention of Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar also. The Chief Minister asked Mr. Pawar to increase the procurement price of paddy to Rs.1,000 a quintal. Paddy cultivation was not profitable due to several reasons. The State was procuring paddy at Rs.900 a quintal in order to encourage paddy cultivation. The procurement price of wheat was increased by Rs.150 to Rs.1,000, he said.

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