Jairam cautions against liberalised imports

Thiruvananthapuram, Apr 5 (UNI) India should not prematurely open its borders for free imports and must tread cautiously while signing free trade pacts with ASEAN to ensure that domestic farmers are not adversely affected, Union Minister of State for Commerce Jairam Ramesh said here today.

''India should not go for liberalised imports until the country improved the productivity of its commodities. Otherwise, it would have adverse effects on the farmers,'' he told reporters here.

Mr Ramesh was here to hold discussions with Ministers, officials and others regarding the issues in the plantation sector.

Noting that imports could not be stopped, he said it could be regulated in such a manner that the domestic farmers were not harmed. The Centre should consult the state governments prior to inking any free trade agreement (FTA).

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had announced at the 14th SAARC meet duty-free access to Indian markets to the South Asian neighbours.

Pointing out that such agreements could affect Kerala, Mr Ramesh said he agreed with state Chief Minister V S Achunthanandan that any FTA with ASEAN must fully protect tea, coffee, edible oil, pepper, rubber and cardamom.

Mr Ramesh was also of the view that productivity should be increased manifold along with protecting the country's interests.

''The Chief Minister finds fault with the liberalised policy for the fall in price of the commodities. But in my view it is the poor productivity,'' he said.

UNI