Need for steps to solve agri crisis stressed

Kottayam, Mar 14 (UNI) Kerala State Cooperative Marketing Societies Association Chairman G Sugunan today emphasised the need for taking immediate steps to resolve the crisis in marketing of agriculture produce.

At a news conference here, he alleged there was no provision in the budget for strengthening the market. Budgetary provision should be given for introducing a permanent system to procure agricultural produce at a remunerative price.

The support price of Copra (Rs 3,590 per quintal) was quite inadequate when compared to the production cost. It should be at least Rs 4,000 per quintal, he said and appealed to the government to take immediate steps to procure copra.

Steps should also be taken to contain the smuggling of rubber to Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. Even though the smuggling was beneficial to growers it was detrimental to the interest of cooperative societies and the state.

Cooperative societies were not getting rubber as a result of the smuggling, he said.

The Chairman also appealed to the government to take steps to cover the loss of cooperative consumer stores.

UNI