Union government urged to stop importing palm oil, silk from China

NT Correspondent

Mysuru: Karnataka State Sugar Sugarcane Growers’ Association President Kurubur Shanthakumar urged the union government on Tuesday to stop importing palm oil as well as silk from China and other countries as it is causing a serious impact on Indian sericulture farmers and coconut growers, leading to price crash of their produce across the country.

Speaking to media persons at a press conference here, he appealed to the central government to stop importing these products from foreign countries under World Trade Organisation (WTO) as it is proving detrimental to the interest of local farmers.

Because of these imports, the price of copra has crashed to Rs 6,000 per quintal. Silk prices have also dropped, causing losses to sericulture farmers. He said that his association has planned a statewide agitation against the decision of the Centre.

He alleged that the union government has not collected GST on casinos, clubs and race courses, but imposed the tax on agriculture tools and equipment, pipes and motors, which are used by poor farmers.

The union government must withdraw this order, he said.

As a drought-like situation prevails across the State what with the monsoon playing truant this year, he appealed to the state government to take all precautionary measures to ensure drinking water, fodder for livestock, besides simplifying loan borrowing rules.

The state government must initiate measures to open procurement centres on time, just like the neighbouring Telangana government has done, to help farmers get a decent prices instead of opening late and causing loss to farmers.

The government must buy necessary food grain directly from farmers after providing decent prices for them for its implementation of Anna Bhagya free rice distribution scheme.

He also urged the government to waive off farmers loans besides to bring all commercial crops like areca nut, sugarcane under fasal bima crop insurance scheme, insurance cover for farmers, 12 hours of uninterrupted power supply and minimum support price for crops.