The Hindu : Front Page : Mullakkara writes to Sharad Pawar

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Thursday, Apr 03, 2008
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Mullakkara writes to Sharad Pawar

Special Correspondent

Minister says withdrawal of import duty on edible oils a death blow for farmers.

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Agriculture Minister Mullakkara Ratnakaran has said that the Union government’s decision to withdraw import tariff on palm oil had come as a bolt from the blue for the farmers of Kerala.

In a press release here on Wednesday, he said the decision had come at a time when Kerala was urging the Union government to increase the import tariff on palm oil to 300 per cent, the maximum permissible for edible oils under the GATT in which India was one of the signatories.

However, the Union government had been systematically bringing down the import tariff on edible oils in the recent past, notwithstanding Kerala’s protest. It was not as though the Union government was not aware of the havoc it would cause to Kerala’s farm economy.

The total withdrawal of import tariff on edible oils now would lead to heavy import of palm oil to the country to pull down the price of coconut and coconut oil. The decision virtually was a death blow for the farmers of the State.

He said he had sent a fax message to the Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar expressing the State’s anguish. The State government had been resorting to several measures, including the procurement of coconuts, to ensure that the farmers received a fair price for their produce. All such efforts would come to naught because of the Union government’s policy. He wondered why the Union government should treat Kerala with such cruelty.

The State suffered heavy crop loss in the severe spell of summer rain witnessed last month. The Centre was yet to release any aid. Even the team to assess the extent of the crop loss had not reached the State.

Citing another instance of ‘neglect,’ Mr. Ratnakaran said that the Dr. Swaminathan Committee Report proposing a major development project for Kuttanad region in the State was yet to receive the approval of the Centre.

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